The Death Whisperer Series

The Death Whisperer Series
The Death Whisperer Series available at https://www.amazon.com/author/dmichaelolive

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Blues & Slide guitar montage and some great summer Rose wine


I’m on a montage roll right now and having done an acoustic and electric collection of guitar greats, I thought tonight I’d hit one of my favorite styles, namely the pure blues and the slide guitar. Gotta start out with two ladies, who in my opinion, are two of the finest blues & slide guitarist to ever pick up the instrument, namely Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block. But the talent doesn’t slack off in the least with guys like Martin Simpson, Kelly Joe Phelps, Roy Rogers, and Ry Cooder. As I was surfing for their songs, I came across a very rare version of Robert Plant doing and acoustic version of “Whole Lotta Love,” in a blues style. Don’t miss it. Hope you enjoy these gals and guys as much as I do.

Bonnie Raitt
That’s just love sneakin up on you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adfhyvjR69M

Rory Block

Kelly Joe Phelps
Down to the praying ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iasKATAEArA

Martin Simpson

Ry Cooder

Roy Rogers

Robert Plant

Since tonight’s the first night of summer, we need a classic summer wine to compliment some hot slide guitar, and nothing says summer better than a Rosé. Some may be under the misconception that a Rosé is a sweet, syrupy wine, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Rosés are full of strawberry and cherry fruits with good acidity. They are light and crisp, the perfect accompaniment to all kinds of foods. I was at the Society for Nuclear Medicine Meeting in Miami last week, staying at the Fountainebleau hotel, which, by the way, is a fabulous place to stay—great pool, beach access, and incredible restaurants. While I hung out at the bar late one afternoon working on my new novel and waiting for one of my research collaborators to show for dinner, I had a couple of glasses of a Palais Cote du Provance Rosé that reminded me how much I love these wines. This particular version was like a strawberry patch on the nose with cherry and strawberry fruit flavors complimented by a touch of orange citrus and vibrant acidity that led to a wonderful finish of fruit. If you haven’t tried a French Rosé, I strongly recommend you do so. They’re usually priced in the $10-$15.00 range which makes them a perfect summer wine suitable for something off the grill or just sitting out in the evening on the deck listening to some excellent slide guitar. Enjoy!

Cheers! 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Electric Blues Guitar Mix & a nice summer wine from Trader Joe's


It is stinking hot here in Lincoln. Temperatures are 100+ with the kind of humidity that makes you feel like a self-basting turkey. So, since I did an acoustic guitar mix last week, I think tonight we’ll go electric focusing on some of my all time favorite guitar songs, including a couple from up-and-comers Andrew Winton and Davy Knowles. David Gilmore plays THE most tasteful leads I’ve ever heard. Eric Clapton is peerless at the blues. When I saw Albert Lee doing “I’m going Home” in concert, I was blown away. I’ve chosen some of Jimmy Page’s more bluesy numbers with the exception of Stairway, which if you’re a guitarist and can’t play it, then you’re really not a guitarist. Went with more blues from Jeff Beck and Johnny Winter. Is there a trend here? Hmm, might as well complete the trend with a little Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and Eric Johnson. Enjoy!

David Gilmore/Pink Floyd
Another Brick in the Wall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbM_MIz4RM

Eric Clapton

Albert Lee

Jimmy Page

Jeff Beck

Johnny winter

Joe Bonamassa

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Eric Johnson

Larry Carlton

Robben Ford

Andrew Winton

Jeff Healy

Davy Knowles

 Although I am a wine lover, I ain’t no snob. I try to blog about what tastes good and, of course, is affordable. To really put that to the test I want to review a great summer sipper/quaffer, Dr. Beckermann’s Piesporter Michelsberg…from Trader Joe’s. It’s a steal at $6.00. It’s semi-sweet with a floral nose. Honey, apples, and lemon come through on the palate with a slight bit of fizz. Very nice for sipping on a warm summer evening. And as a dining tip, Piesporter Michelsbergs, Rieslings, and Gewurztraminers go great with spicy food. So, while you’re at Trader Joe’s picking up this wine, don’t forget the stuffed jalapenos!

Cheers!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Chicago's Bin36 restaurant and the best acoustic performances


Been on the road these past two weeks and unable to blog, but while I was attending the American Society For Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, my wife and I were able to visit our favorite restaurant, Bin36. If you ever get to Chicago, don’t miss this place, especially if you like wine and want to learn more. They have a marvelous selection of cheese flights so start with one as an appetizer. The wines can be ordered by the glass, bottle, or in a flight that consists of four different choices. The dinner entrees are tapas-style so you can mix and match, and everything we had was delicious. But our favorite wine of the night was their own Duncan & Sachs Proprietary Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. It’s a deep red color with aromas of dark berries and a touch of mocha. The flavor is full of blackberries, plums, and healthy overtones of dark chocolate. Light on the tannins which is fine with me. We took a bottle ($17.00) back to our hotel for the next night. Outstanding!

And to compliment any ole wine you’re drinking, here’s a collection of what I consider to be some of the greatest guitar numbers, performances, and guitarist in the acoustic world starting with Michael Hedges and ending with Tommy Emmanuel. Enjoy!

Michael Hedges

Don Ross

Chet Atkins

Leo Kotke

Eric Mongrain

Andy McKee

Kotaro Oshio

Calum Graham

Eric Turnbull

Gareth Pearson

Mason Williams

Jake Shimabuko

T-Cophony

Tommy Emmanuel

Cheers!