Summer and Starlight

jay bennett was one of those rare individuals who operated equally from both sides of the brain.  his contributions to wilco’s music resulted in some of my favorite records, ever.   (yankee hotel foxtrot and summerteeth)

not only did he play a wide variety of instruments  (guitar, pianos, banjo, organs, a crazy array of synths, mellotron, drums, etc) with an easy grace but his talents in production and arrangement brought wilco’s music to fascinating new depths.

things weren’t going too well for him recently and its a shame he was taken from this world so young.

some of my favorite jay bennett moments on film:

jay isn’t on camera much in this one, i just love all the crazy keys and harmonies on this track:

people don’t come around every day who treat lead guitar with this much eloquence:

“pieholden suite” was, i believe, one of his personal favorite wilco recordings that he contributed to (along with the keys on “california stars.”) i love the tasteful brian wilson influence:

finally, wilco recorded the song “My Darling” for Summerteeth, but Jay wrote it and did an excellent version on his record with Edward Burch, The Palace at 4 A.M. it gives me chills.

No comments