HOWLAND, LAUG, MORRISON & PINNICK: Live At The Baked Potato

Howland, Laug, Morrison & Pinnick

Live At The Baked Potato

© 2004 Howland, Laug, Morrison & Pinnick (647987186121)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Two guitarists from two eras of the legendary band Chicago recorded "live" in an all instrumental guitarfest.

notes

A note from guitarist Keith Howland:

As the current guitarist with the band Chicago, I've always had a healthy respect for all of the previous guitarists with the band. Donnie Dacus, Dawayne Bailey and Chris Pinnick are all inspiring musicians in their own inimitable ways and of course the late great Terry Kath was one the best guitarists to ever grace the planet. During the early part of 2003 I was introduced to guitarist Chris Pinnick through our common guitar technician Hank Steiger. Chris and I became fast friends and decided to put an instrumental guitar record together along with drummer Matt Laug and bassist Lance Morrison. We called the project "Howland, Laug, Morrison & Pinnick" (still available right here at CDBaby by the way) and released it in the summer of 2003. It was great to work with Chris as I have always admired his fiery playing style and diverse abilities. Well, fast forward to November of 2003 when I had booked a gig with my other band "The Howland/Imboden Project" at the world famous jazz club "The Baked Potato". While on the phone with Justin Randi who books the club, I asked if there were any dates coming up that the HLMP band could use as our debut live performance. Well, it just so happened that the night following the Howland/Imboden Project was open so I snapped it up. Any opportunity to not have to tear down your equipment is a good enough excuse to take a gig for me! As we began discussing the live show, one issue that came up in conversation was what to do about recreating the brilliant keyboard work done by Jeff Babko on the record. Jeff unfortunately for us and fortunately for him is the keyboardist in the house band for the Jimmy Kimmel show which airs live at about 9PM Pacific time. As it turns out, while he couldn't make the first set, he was cool with coming down for the second set so we were set. (Can I say "set" again please?) The gig arrived and our first set was good, not great, but good. We had one rehearsal a week prior and were kind of finding our way as we went along. We took a break, I had a beer, and Babko showed up at which time the dynamic changed dramatically. What you hear on the live CD is the entire second set book ended by Snonga and Swingset Assembly from the first set. It's as it happened and it was pretty happening! Pinnick has always been a guy who I've found to have that extra gear when it comes to live playing and Jeff Babko was just superb. Lance and Matt really played their posteriors off and supported the soloists beautifully. I observed, recorded, applauded, and oh yeah, I played guitar as well, I almost forgot. There's a great energy happening on this CD and I hope you will feel it too!

reviews

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  • you'll be amazed!!
    author: Jim Sours

    Wow! I mean really... WOW! It's tough to "rate" CDs, because some people like flashy solos, some like strong songs, some like bands that rock, and so on. This one is not tough. This is not a great CD for an independent band. It's not a decent jam session with a few cool solos. This is the real deal. Nearly incredible guitar playing, world class really, along with real songs! It represents the best of the fusion type genre of any era by anyone. Very accessible and enjoyable. Thanks guys for a terrific CD!

  • Keith is a genius
    author: Melinda Miller

    I love the fact Keith got together with former Chicago guitarist Chris Pinnick. Classy guys, who along with Matt Laug and Lance Morrison, also happened to make a most fantastically fabulous album. Just like Keith's other albums, this one is a work of art. Thanks for the non-Chicago music, Keith. I know many of us Chicago fans enjoy hearing and supporting your other endeavors. Now, how about convincing Robert to tour for S&P and how about y'all opening up? I'm not the only one out here that would make sure I caught some of those gigs...:-).

  • Anxious for more
    author: Todd

    Great Cd...I mean GREAT!!! Sound quality so good you'd think it was a studio recording.

  • Maravilhoso
    author: Jussara Oliveira

    É muito bom!! Keith, além de excelente guitarrista, você é o homem mais lindo que já vi!! A Banda Chicago, certamente, só ganhou com vc. Está ainda melhor

  • great
    author: chardeau

    great guitarists , great CD , great pleasure ! yeah !

  • It was like being there!
    author: Steve Gledhill, Oswego, Illinois

    I, too, was a Chicago fan going back to the early 70s. But as a kid, I wasn't waiting for the guitar jam. I liked the songs. Chicago was about the somgs. As a young adult, I was a Toto fan. I enjoyed the songs but I waited for the 5-15 second Steve Lukather guitar solo and would be thrilled by the performance but bummed that there was maybe 5 minutes total of Luke jams on the entire album. Toto was about the songs. Now, at 45, I have the privilege of listening to Luke playing live with Larry Carlton, and it's a guitarfest. I can see this band on DVD and it's all guitar. GET OVER IT CHICAGO FANS and appreciate this incredible performance by two special guitarists. I had a great time absorbing this CD. Maybe we can get the next great performance by these cats on DVD.

  • Inspired singer/songwriter fueled by your energy.
    author: Rhonda Bennett

    I wasn't there, but as a singer/songwriter on CDBaby, (Rhonda Bennett) and lifelong prayer that I could work with this band or at least write a song with ONE of them, you are all blessed. Chris Pinnick, AND Keith Howland, plus I've been email friends with Dawayne Bailey for years and Darin Scheff hosts my (other) website career of counseling. Heaven will be so wonderful when you all end up there writing wonderful songs for eternity. God Bless!

  • Superb Live Fusion-Rock.....AWESOME !
    author: Hardy

    This instrumental record with five excellent musicians is one of the best in the last years. Class A Sound +++ virtuous musicians with feeling and soul +++ fantastic team play +++ six from five stars +++ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!

  • This really sucks...no not the CD!
    author: Preston Frazier

    This CD makes me mad. It is wonderfully played, well written and ably produced. Why does it make me mad you ask? Well, this meeting of two great Chicago guitarist shows how great talent in the band is untapped. Keith Howland has only written one song for Chicago and the production sapped all energy from it. Poor Chris Pinnick usually took a back set in the studio. This CD shows us that Chicago's loss is our gain. Morrison is also outstanding and Laug plays with fire. I don't have their studio CD yet. Guess what's next on my list?

  • These guys cook!!!
    author: Dave DiPetro

    I felt like I was at the Baked Potato when I heard this CD. Better yet...I felt like I was in their studio while they jammed. Bands and CD Baby give me much hope about the future of music in my hears.

  • Really fantastic!
    author: Georg Pilger

    Great handmade music! Keith Howland and Chris Pinnick plays very melodious and its a pleasure to hear.

  • Excellent! Superb Music
    author: Paul B

    I can't say enough about there music! It's Great!

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