BTMN Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Sad day for a good musician.http://jazztimes.com/sections/news/articles/151334-guitarist-jeff-golub-dies-at-59Loved watching him play Hamers with Billy Squier all those years ago.. R.I.P Jeff Thanks for the tunes!
specialk Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 RIP, Jeff.The brother could use some help:http://www.jeffgolub.com/golubmedical.htmlETA:Nevermind.
Willie G. Moseley Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Grand Central was one of those rare guitar-based instrumental album that average listeners and pro musicians could appreciate. It was very melodic but wasn't stereotypical "happy jazz" (and that term usually has "L.A." in front of it). It was sent to me some years ago by the p.r. company that handled the promo campaign, and it's still in my CD library. Hanging on to a new-release album that was originally listened to in order to prep for an interview is something I rarely do unless I really, really like it, and Grand Central was such an album.Here's the text from that article:Jeff Golub: Gotham Guitar TributeOriginally from Copley, Ohio, guitarist Jeff Golub has resided in New York City for over a quarter-century, and his most recent release, Grand Central (Narada Jazz) is an instrumental effort that took its inspiration from that polyglot metropolis. Golub noted that he originally wanted to play bluegrass music, but once the Beatles appeared on the popular music scene, he approached the guitar in a different manner, and once he heard Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, his commitment was complete. “Every guitar player John Mayall got after that back then was also amazing,” Golub opined. “Peter Green, Mick Taylor. I think Taylor gets ripped off on how big of an influence he was, simply because Clapton and Green came first. I recently ‘re-bought’ Blues From Laurel Canyon, and I’ve been wearing it out. It still sounds great.”His earliest influences in Ohio included the James Gang’s Joe Walsh, of whom he recounted “He knew how to get those nice bends and that nice vibrato; he had a great feel. There was also Phil Keaggy, who was playing a Les Paul in Glass Harp then. I think he was an influence on everybody in that area. One of the things I utilize a lot in my own playing is manipulating the volume control with my little finger, and every guitarist of my age from northeastern Ohio who knows how to do that owes it to Phil Keaggy!”Perhaps not surprisingly, Golub’s first guitar was a Stella, followed by a Harmony electric with a matching amp. He acquired a Gretsch Country Gentleman when he was 12, having been interested in that model thanks to George Harrison. “That guitar was much better than I deserved,” Jeff recalled with a laugh, “but it made me work harder at playing, because I was embarrassed to own such a good guitar and be such a crappy guitar player.”Golub moved from Boston (he’d attended Berklee School of Music) to New York in 1980 and his bgi break came when he auditioned successfully for the guitarist slot in Billy Squier’s band. “I didn’t really know that it would pan out to be that long of an association,” he said of his tenure with Squier (VG, August ’06). “I toured with him from ’80 to ’84, but I continued to play on his records until the ‘90s. We’re still friends and we still hang out. He’s a guy who had the right idea when it comes to vintage guitars.”On the earlier Squier albums and videos, Golub primarily relied on a 1968 Les Paul Black Beauty re-issue, which he still owns. He also still owns a ’57 Special and a ’56 Junior. It was during his tenure with Squier that he got a ’65 Strat, which he had refinished in Candy Apple Red, and that guitar is currently his main instrument.Following his association with Squier, Golub recorded albums with Peter Wolf, and also got into New York session work. He also released his first solo album, in 1988. Rod Stewart was assembling a band during what Golub termed “…the ‘shredder period’—everybody playing with two hands on the neck, and Rod doesn’t like that; he likes Chuck Berry. The bass player, Carmine Rojas, and Eddie Martinez, who was supposed to be the other guitar player, told him about a guy in New York, and they flew me to L.A. to audition. We played about three songs, and they said ‘Okay, you got the job; let’s go to the bar!’”Golub spent eight years with Stewart, and used many of his aforementioned guitars, as well as an ESP with a Floyd Rose vibrato. He played a 1969 Martin D-28 on Stewart’s rendition of “Have I Told You Lately”.Jeff left Stewart’s band because of a desire to play guitar in more of a melodic format instead of what he termed a “spotlight” role, and has released numerous acclaimed instrumental albums. His most recent effort, Grand Central, has opened with a strong buzz. “I’ve always listened to jazz, and studied jazz at Berklee,” he explained, “but I’d always been known more for blues-rock guitar. I’m a big fan of the Grant Green/Kenny Burrell/Wes Montgomery styles, which I do up to a point, but I think what sets me apart is that I can mix in legitimate blues-rock roots.”While he owns classic Gibson jazz boxes such as a ’59 single-pickup ES-175 and a ’64 L-5 that he used on earlier recordings, he observed “I’ve talked about how it’s a big deal that on this new record, I’m playing a Strat for the most part.”Other electric guitars on Grand Central include a ’59 Gibson ES-345 and a ’98 Epiphone Sheraton, with Gibson replacement Gibson pickups. His amp of choice was a Fuchs Overdrive Supreme 50. A 1964 Martin 0-18 is heard on two primarily-acoustic tracks, “Mojito” and “The Way I Feel Tonight”.Grand Central’s “New York attitude” includes a nod to the legendary Big Apple band of session musicians called Stuff, which was fronted by guitarists Cornell Dupree and Eric Gale. In fact, the last track on Grand Central is titled “Stuffin’ It”.“It goes deeper than that last track,” Golub detailed, “Part of playing the Strat was picking on Cornell a lot. I loved that band, and I saw them live many times. I was in awe—they would catch a groove and just go with it. I told guys in the studio I wanted a Stuff influence on more than one track.”Golub utilized some ace musicians himself on Grand Central, including saxophonist Kirk Whalum, with whom he goes note-for-note on “Slinky”. Whalum and Golub were slated to be part of a package tour in the summer of ’07. The ’65 Strat will be Jeff’s frontline instrument, with a Hamer Daytona in reserve.Jeff Golub appreciates the responsibility of writing and playing the melody of a song on guitar, instead of simply being showcased during a stereotypical “lead guitar break”, and Grand Central shows that he’s been up for the task for a long time.For more information, go to www.jeffgolub.com
Studio Custom Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 RIP, Jeff.The brother could use some help:http://www.jeffgolub.com/golubmedical.htmlIf Jeff was insolvent at death the medical providers are out of luck, they can't come after family members.
bubs_42 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 RIP, I was just watching some performances of Jeff's last week. What a player!
mc2 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 A good player who left a decent catalog of work.After losing his sight and ability to perform over the last few years, I'm sure he is in a better place.Nothing more miserable and torturous than a great player who has to suffer being no longer able to play.RIP Jeff.
Kurt L Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 After losing his sight and ability to perform over the last few years, I'm sure he is in a better place. Nothing more miserable and torturous than a great player who has to suffer being no longer able to play. RIP Jeff. I can't be the only one who remembers this... hopefully St. Peter handed him a pair of wings and an Artist Custom!
ZoomP Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 He was, to me the face of Hamer Guitar back in the 90s. Will be deeply missed. I am truly saddened and shocked by the news. RIP Jeff. At least where you are now, there's no more blindness and sickness. Hope you still play a Hamer up there.
ARM OF HAMER Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Great player and all around musician,I saw him several times and he put on a top notch performance................but that was many years ago....................can't even imagine the issues he was dealing with lately...................sad.
louhamer Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 I saw Jeff in Boston 3 separate times. He was a talented and humble player. He impressed as being a tasteful player who combined jazz, blues & R&B in a fantastic NYC uptown style. He could groove with the best of them. He was a pretty decent writer too. He was the guitarist I wanted to be like when I attended Berklee. The last time I saw him was at Scullers in Boston with Kirk Whalen. He was blind and had to be led on stage to a chair. His Strat had tape on the back of the neck to denote where the frets are. His wife and young son, probably about 8 at the time were there. His son gave him a fedora because he told Jeff that blues guys need to wear one. He smiled and joked around during the set. I was amazed at how well he played. What a gracious and humble human being. My heart goes out to his family. God love you Jeff.
Hamerica Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Like many I was a fan of Jeff's work with Billy Squire and knew he had played with "Rockin' Rod Stewart" The HFC had a couple of posts later one about Jeff regarding his solo efforts and his continued health condition decline. Jeff was a excellent player whom I never had the chance to see perform live.My heart goes out to his friends and family. God Bless,Hamerica
Willie G. Moseley Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 There are times when certain incidents can "hit home" for me in sort of a "second wave" sometime later, for various personal reasons (probably true for a lot of folks). A definitive example for me happened a few days after 9/11 (noted in a newspaper column back then; not gonna re-hash it here).I only knew Jeff Golub in a media/performer relationship but he'd let me know he was a family-oriented guy, which is stereotypically rare in these days and times.A few minutes ago I pulled up a video of Rod Stewart performing "The First Cut is the Deepest" in concert, w/ Golub backing him on what appears to be a 12-string Taylor acoustic. It's a Cat Stevens song and is one of the better Stewart interpretations, right up there (for me) with "Sailing" and the first version of "This Ol' Heart of Mine" (both from the "slow side" of Atlantic Crossing).And I just flat out lost it. The sight and sound of a recently-departed pro who was a decent guy performing a passionate song just really got to me. Perhaps subliminally I must have appreciated Golub more than I might care to admit.
ArnieZ Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 So sad, I am a big fan! Had the pleasure of seeing him in NYC several time during the Avenue Blue days. He played at a couple different bars with low to minimal cover charge. He often had 7 piece bands for these little gigs which I took to be essentially rehearsals. Corresponded with him 1 time via email. He was very kind and thoughtful in his response regarding his setup. He sent me a complete list of what he played on his first 2 Avenue Blue Albums. At one of the NYC gigs he broke a string on his red Strat and pulled out his Daytona. They were set up identically with a Duncan bucker in the bridge position. I could not tell the difference tone wise. RIP Jeff
it's me HHB Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Saw a pic with him and his young son as he lay in the hospital. as an older dad now it turned me to jello. So f_ing sad
BTMN Posted January 4, 2015 Author Posted January 4, 2015 Per Willie G.'s suggestion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksMSsIhKXWM Edited cause DOH!!! Moment.
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