• From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Topic: Grand larceny

Last night I think I committed an illegal act. For 18 Euros I saw Ritchie Kotzen in Hamburg last night and I think I ripped him off. I should have paid waaaay more for that.
Maybe its something to do with the financial crisis, the internet, voodoo or Kharma, but there are just so many great artists out there who are hitting the road and doing it..live.
Never seen him before, just clips on YouTube. Yeah, knew some of his stuff but really, to see him up close and personal in a tiny club doing his thing was simply....astonishing.

Maybe there are detractors out there given his CV that might say he is all Flash and no fire. Flash he can be, but the fire burns, and how.

For a singer/guitarist I guess the question is, does he have the pipes and the chops? Vocally he is quite stunning. Superb range and feeling. Very cool indeed. As a player mere words cannot describe it. Like when I saw Joe for the first time I am humbled by the amount of sheer hard work (and no small degree of talent) it must take to be THAT good.

And following on from a thread I saw in the equipment forum about size of rigs and the punch they provide, The Ballroom in Hamburg is quite small. Ritchie used a very modest (mini) Cornford setup. But what a sound. Tone is what they are all after and I think the God of Tone looked down last night, saw and heard all was well. Fabulous and relatively effects free. Just the man and his weapon of choice, last night a Telecaster. I may have to add him to the list thats running here.

So to fellow music fans in Germany, Holland, Czech, Belgium and the USA (Los Angeles) he may be coming to a town near you in the next couple of weeks. I urge you to go and rip him off too....!!

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • Curby
  • Curby
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  • Registered: 2008-12-19
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Re: Grand larceny

Ritchie is one of my favorite guitarists.  He's done some great music with Stevie Salas who's another great singer/guitarist.  I think those two produced and played on a couple of fine Sass Jordan albums.

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: Grand larceny

Hallo Hansamike,

A few days ago I got an email from Henrik Freischlader the best German Bluesgitarist about the same show.
He saw Ritchie and was blown away too, he said if you have the chance to see him GO!

PS.  Henrik was the first part from the Joe show at the Bluesgarage in Hannover years ago where Michael Lynch and Geko were too  but we didn't know and see each other!!!
They did some songs together too!

Andre Wittebroek

4 Reply by ReverendPaul (edited by ReverendPaul 2009-01-30 11:22:03)

  • From: Waukesha, WI U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2007-09-18
  • Posts: 892

Re: Grand larceny

Curby wrote:

Ritchie is one of my favorite guitarists.  He's done some great music with Stevie Salas who's another great singer/guitarist.  I think those two produced and played on a couple of fine Sass Jordan albums.

Funny I'm a Kotzen fan but unfamiliar with any of that and can't find it on the Net. I know he worked with Stanley Jordan the jazz bassist, I also know of his work with Poison and his solo instrumental albums on Shrapnel at the age of 18. Also know his work with Greg howe. When was the Salas and Sass Jordan work and where can I get info on it?

Never mind I stand corrected, just found an extended discography on his Forum that someone did. He actually did background vocals on a Sass jordan album and played on several Salas albums. Wonder why he doesn't list this on his official credits?

When I was a child I spoke as a child, But all I heard was how I should get ahead,
Now growing up it ain't anything but all This indecision with these debts and doubts
And worries hanging over my head. When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

ReverendPaul's Website

  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: Grand larceny

The most recent work of his (RK) I have is on Marco Mendoza's solo effort. Ritchie handles most of the guitar work and some of the production with a few guests adding various solo's.
As an album I thought the playing was good, as it should be with the musicians involved. Unfortunately, IMO I found the writing uninspiring and I guess there was only so much they could with average material. An opportunity missed methinks.
However the title of the album is "Live for Tomorrow" and with that thought in mind maybe they can do better next time around!

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012

6 Reply by Curby (edited by Curby 2009-01-30 15:20:08)

  • Curby
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Re: Grand larceny

ReverendPaul,

I'll get you more specific information about  Ritchie's work on Sass Jordan's albums later today.  I've got to find those cds to get the info.
Curby