Saturday Music Hall: Live From Abbey Road

Amos Lee, Black River, Live From Abbey Road

Have you watched any of this series on the Sundance Channel? Every week they feature three musical artists each recording three songs live at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, with some short interview clips tossed into the mix. After so many days filled with negative vibes coming from Washington, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, you name it, it was grounding to tune into the show last night at midnight and slide into a more soul nurturing corner of the universe.

Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, Street Life, Live From Abbey Road

Last night's episode featured singer-songwriter Amos Lee (top), jazz and R & B vocalist Randy Crawford with piano virtuoso Joe Sample, founding member of the Crusaders (above), and some of the stunning musicianship of guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame (below).

David Gilmour, On An Island, Live From Abbey Road

Gilmour, as always, was a flow unto himself, but I really enjoyed hearing Lee, who I'd never run across before, and Crawford and Sample, who I'd pretty much forgotten. There's truth to the old saw that music soothes the savage breast. I was soothed and swayed. Phew. Maybe you will be too, in these savage times.

More Amos Lee can be found at MySpace and his official website. He's got quite a range of styles and I find his vocals to be beautiful -- when was the last time you thought of that adjective when listening to today's music -- yet gritty enough not to be too precious.

More Randy Crawford can be had at Wikipedia and at this site. Explore more Joe Sample at Verve Music and Wikipedia. Check out their new album together, "Feeling Good." Classy stuff done right, with plenty of nuance and chops.