Jay is incredibly humble. I met him at a Gino Vannelli gig back in 2019. I said “hey Jay”! Bieng a complete stranger, he still came up to me and we chatted. This guy is the definition of the OG LA sound. Young cats take notes.
@@beneunson Hey Ben great interview I really enjoyed it....do you do you happen what those monitors are called behind him ? ....and what’s his RUclips channel ?
48:54 Let's pray that the documentary will see the light. The 'last golden age before commercial music turned to crap' Well said. Thanks for the music mr Graydon.
"Peg" made me aware of Jay G. after Walter and Donald dissected the Aja album and pointed out the solo Jay did on Peg.....after others layed eggs. Would it be disrespectful to put him in the "freak" catagory.,,,,,?.. In a positive and admiring way.
Jay is a rediscovered treasure by doing RUclips. NOT underrated! Im sick of "underrated". And the depth if the knowledge is why guys like this had so much success.
If you never heard Jay's work on Alphonse Mouzon's album "Mind Transplant" it's well worth a listen. Lee Ritenour and Tommy Bolin are on this record as well...
He said something here VERY important about getting out because of MUSIC being FREE now & he is right !! except for minimal royalties from Tunecore unless as an Indie Artist I can have HUGE hit , Spotify & RUclips have put an end to selling your songs as an album or one at a time!!!! In the last ten years I found this to be TRUE!!! The 20 years before that it was not true.
Amazing interview. Jay is a legend and one of the great masters of music - guitar playing, producing, engineering, songwriting and also singing with my favorite Airplay! What a brilliant mind. Thanks for this Ben!
43:19 quite a bit beyond excellent. benson, jay, and nile rogers are responsible for my life long love of playing guitar. when i was a baby radio was peg, turn your love around, and good times. tv was also good times.
What an interview!!!!! I just loved it. You ask the questions which brought the answers I wished to hear, and I've heard now. He talks about his career, the people he got involved with, all the great musicians I learned to love throughout the years, not forgetting the tips he gave us in how he worked around the songs to make them what they are. Great musician, great producer, great interviewer. Congratulations in your interview, the enthusiasm found in both of you, I felt the same way, there were parts in the interview I enjoyed so much, I felt an obligation in push the back buttom to hear again, either to learn something or because I liked the way things were said.... I loved all the way.... Thanks...... Joe (in Brazil)
that's the best interview I've ever heard it's informative entertaining funny and I always had the most respect for Jay really well done I set my car in my driveway and listen to the whole thing great job!
Like many people, I got to Jay through the Peg solo. In those years, this kind of information was not easy to get. You'd ask around, get your hands in any magazine with an article about Steely Dan, or a book -if you were lucky and had the money-. It took me years, until finally I found out. These days, kids have it real easy. And that's wonderful. It's a real gift that videos like this are available just like that. Sitting at home. And this interview with Jay is probably the best I've seen. Thank you, Ben!
Jay is one of the greats in a long line of musicians from a great era in music! He's a super player and producer! Peg alone is a calling card! The Jarreau album is so cool! Loved reading the album credits back in the 70s and early 80s seeing his name along with David Foster Lukather Ritenour Dean parks Ray Parker was always a treat! I buy cds and will continue to! Great interview!
This interview is the Best Thanks Ben .Jay Graydon is up with the best Guitar players in the world very funny regarding Perfect pitch love his use of chord structures which is how i compose songs made we feel so good ( Chuck Magione)my Favourite Guitar Music interview
6what a legend Jay Graydon and what a great musician. I hope you go ahead and start putting into video all these stories or they'll be lost forever Jay!!
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this incredible interview, thank you for making this happen. Would have loved to hear much more about the Airplay album in 1980. Jay is awesome and of course I could talk to him for hours if I could (like you said). Heading out to Malibu in a couple weeks…would love to meet him.
Great interview and even though there was a lot of technical stuff, I was not bored at all. Jay is a great talker and I loved his story of him telling George Benson that he wasn't the right guitarist for a particular track. I hope that Jay manages to get his directory of session players together.
Jay Graydon is the coolest guy on the planet. I love his stories which he tells with flair and honesty. LOVE this stuff man. And Ben’s playing is just insanely creative and dazzling. Thanks for posting this.
Hey thanks for the video I have to say that I’m a Rhodes guy still have my 88 suitcase mark 1 but I think I’m gonna buy the E Rhodes from Jay can’t wait to have it in my studio
Thanks for sharing this stunning interview with this legend of all times! It is not often you get deadlocked to a post like this on the tube - but this one is a must for all of us that grew up with the west coast era and all the fantastic cats behind the masterpieces from those days. Just like reading Luke´s "Gospel..." book this interview gives you some marvellous behind-the-scenes stories from Jay - thanks to Ben asking the right questions! And just to quote and honor the great late Al Jarreau - this whole clip was So Good!
Thanks so much for watching! I had to ask Jay about it as I’d never heard him discuss it before, and it’s such an interesting addition to Herbie’s discography - a lost gem indeed!
One hell of a musician ! - Love the way Jay tells his stories ! The BBC did a 2 part docu. called " I can go for that : the smooth world of yacht rock." about how all the great music we loved to listen to back then - Got clumpped together as "Yacht Rock " ? - So all the kids nowadays know great music as Yacht Rock ? - And they think its always been called that ? Ha ! And on one snippet in the 2nd docu - Steve Lukather & Steve Pocaro from Toto were telling their stories about their Band & Songs etc - And Jays name came up ! - Mainly about when Jay was writing a song for George Benson ! - Jay had 4 days to write a song ! - He had been sat at the piano and had hit a brick wall his mind was blank ! - For two days nothing - And he went to the Can & While sat their on the can - The opening riff to what would be "Turn your love around" ! - And Steve Lukather tells this story ! - The only way Steve Lukathor could haha ? I love George Benson - What a Guitarist - But when I hear this track - "Turn your love around " - In my mind I just cannot get that guy Jay Graydon sat on his crapper ! - Composing & coming up with this great song - Just cannot get him out of my mind ! - Haha ! I really wonder what George thinks about this song while he's singing it ? - Does he know where it was composed ? Hey back in the day ! - We took for granted that Pot was used by some * in the writing of music & lyrics (even books) - But not that Pot you sit on ? Haha ! SB British Isles * please note I'm not implying that anyone I've mentioned here has ever used Pot ! Great Interview love it ! - Well done Ben !!
Only complaint: too short! :)) Would have loved to hear more about his gear-or rather, his relationship with the builders. Mr Graydon is the reason I owned a Rivera R55-12. Best amp I ever had.
Man I'm glad I found this channel... insane chops and music geeks just geeking out.. and a fantastic interview with a legend. So cool to see so much mutual respect and humility.
Great interview Ben. I’m always struck with how self effacing Jay is (also positive). Great guy! I would love to see the movie/biopic he wants to put together.
He is a Giant. All the albums I love, he appears on them. Awesome! Very happy to have found this very interesting interview of the Legendary Jay Graydon.
Great work here Ben. Sis tells me that Jay has been talking about doing an interview in the land down under for some time now and to me, you've nailed it. As you've found out, he has so many stories to tell, not to mention his brilliant and highly esteemed abilities as a player, composer and producer of top quality music. Excellent stuff, take care and best wishes for the future.
@@beneunson love your playing too. Jay is right - he doesn't give praise unless he loves what you do. Keep it up, been listening to your take on Giant Steps.
Thank you for this great conversation. Jay is a regular guy, reminds me of hanging with my own friends, other than his great success, endless depth of musical knowledge and creative talent. I don’t know if it’s part of a person’s genetic code, but virtually every musician I know talks just like Jay. We refer to individuals as “cat”, we say “dig” relative to appreciating or enjoying something and most express the same level of excitement as Jay when meeting a gifted player. Jay really impressed me the way he recognized and encourages other musicians. I’ve encountered many who are petty or jealous of people who have more skills or talent. I’ve quit more bands than I can recall rather than deal with egomaniacs. Ashamed to admit, when I was 19, I went to audition for a band, but after the audition, I told them I wasn’t interested because I was “better” than they were and wanted to play with cats who were better than me. In hindsight, I made the right choice for me, but I’ve never been the kind of guy to bluntly say “…I’m too good for you…” in anything. The Al Jarreau albums he collaborated on were the soundtrack to my life in the 80s. At the time, I didn’t pay attention to who played or produced the music, I just dug it. This was a treat, thank you so much.
I have a pair in my studio. Love them! I spotted them at a pawn shop in the ‘90’s. The guy didn’t know what he had and I got them for next to nothing. They are heavy as heck though!
wonderful Jay Graydon. ..i d wish to send you my song ( Happy to have Keith Carlock on board) and to have your opinion... I adore your guitare playing... Mr.Gregg
I know Jay played on a lot of great music for many artists, but I'm a little surprised he didn't mention his work on some of Gino Vanelli's albums, especially 'Gist of The Gemini" and "Storm at Sunup!
"....Amongst the Arts, Music is the most powerful one because can make you happy or make you cry and yet, it's just a Sound that you can't even see!" (Arthur Schopenhauer) Carus Alambra
Jay is incredibly humble. I met him at a Gino Vannelli gig back in 2019. I said “hey Jay”! Bieng a complete stranger, he still came up to me and we chatted. This guy is the definition of the OG LA sound. Young cats take notes.
He certainly is the definition of the LA sound! What a great story, thank you for sharing it!
@@beneunson Hey Ben great interview I really enjoyed it....do you do you happen what those monitors are called behind him ? ....and what’s his RUclips channel ?
His bends are unbelievable. Incredible pitch
Everyone loves Jay, great stories, a class act, and most importantly a steward of the music, always wanting to pay it forward. Great interview.
Thanks so much for watching, Jay is indeed a class act!
48:54 Let's pray that the documentary will see the light. The 'last golden age before commercial music turned to crap' Well said. Thanks for the music mr Graydon.
"Peg" made me aware of Jay G. after Walter and Donald dissected the Aja album and pointed out the solo Jay did on Peg.....after others layed eggs.
Would it be disrespectful to put him in the "freak" catagory.,,,,,?..
In a positive and admiring way.
Peg is simply awesome and when he put his stamp of approval on jarreau's this time. He had me
Would love it if Jay could could get the music docu project off th ground !
I would love it as well! I hope it happens
Jay’s Peg solo has given me so much inspiration. The use of fourths on a pop song in the late 70s was crazy.
And what about Steve Kipner's The Ending?
His solo on Manhattan Transfers Twilight Zone is amazing!A great talent and cool person!
Jay is a rediscovered treasure by doing RUclips. NOT underrated! Im sick of "underrated". And the depth if the knowledge is why guys like this had so much success.
If you never heard Jay's work on Alphonse Mouzon's album "Mind Transplant" it's well worth a listen. Lee Ritenour and Tommy Bolin are on this record as well...
Ty for reco
He said something here VERY important about getting out because of MUSIC being FREE now & he is right !! except for minimal royalties from Tunecore unless as an Indie Artist I can have HUGE hit , Spotify & RUclips have put an end to selling your songs as an album or one at a time!!!! In the last ten years I found this to be TRUE!!! The 20 years before that it was not true.
Amazing interview. Jay is a legend and one of the great masters of music - guitar playing, producing, engineering, songwriting and also singing with my favorite Airplay! What a brilliant mind. Thanks for this Ben!
“Nothing you can do about it “s An Awesome tune! 🎹👏
43:19 quite a bit beyond excellent. benson, jay, and nile rogers are responsible for my life long love of playing guitar. when i was a baby radio was peg, turn your love around, and good times. tv was also good times.
I love this man he tells it straight like it is. Very knowledgeable and overall great musician
What an interview!!!!! I just loved it. You ask the questions which brought the answers I wished to hear, and I've heard now. He talks about his career, the people he got involved with, all the great musicians I learned to love throughout the years, not forgetting the tips he gave us in how he worked around the songs to make them what they are. Great musician, great producer, great interviewer. Congratulations in your interview, the enthusiasm found in both of you, I felt the same way, there were parts in the interview I enjoyed so much, I felt an obligation in push the back buttom to hear again, either to learn something or because I liked the way things were said.... I loved all the way.... Thanks...... Joe (in Brazil)
Thanks Joe!
This interview was so entertaining!
Thanks so much for watching! Aside from being a brilliant musician, Jay is also a great storyteller! 😀
@@beneunson he was funny while being extremely informative
This was so great. Jay is a legend. So many good stories. What a treasure.
Jay would be great to interview. 2 questions and you’ve got 3 hours worth. Love ya Jay. Legend.
Absolutely! What a joy to talk to him, he's brilliant!
This is fantastic! One of my early heroes!
Thanks Ron! One of my heroes as well
that's the best interview I've ever heard it's informative entertaining funny and I always had the most respect for Jay really well done I set my car in my driveway and listen to the whole thing great job!
@@timdehuff4301 thanks for watching!
Great interview, Ben!
thanks Tony!
Thank you so much Ben and Jay for this incredible documentary.
Wow much thanks to you, 🙏❤️🎧🎶🎶🎶
Could listen to this guy for hours. What a great guy.
Like many people, I got to Jay through the Peg solo. In those years, this kind of information was not easy to get. You'd ask around, get your hands in any magazine with an article about Steely Dan, or a book -if you were lucky and had the money-. It took me years, until finally I found out. These days, kids have it real easy. And that's wonderful. It's a real gift that videos like this are available just like that. Sitting at home. And this interview with Jay is probably the best I've seen. Thank you, Ben!
Thank you so much for watching!
I would love to speak to Jay in person and pick his brain about reading music and position .
This is the best interview ever glued..
Oh snap! This is awesome!
One of the greatest guitarist ever!
Great creative session musician
Superb humane being and monster player .. Great interview...
Brilliant wonderful interview thanks so much Jay and Ben!
Thanks so much for watching!
so much wisdom here!! amazing
Great idea !!
Awesome stuff
Jay is one of the greats in a long line of musicians from a great era in music! He's a super player and producer! Peg alone is a calling card! The Jarreau album is so cool! Loved reading the album credits back in the 70s and early 80s seeing his name along with David Foster Lukather Ritenour Dean parks Ray Parker was always a treat! I buy cds and will continue to! Great interview!
Thank you! Big Fan!
thanks for watching!
This interview is the Best Thanks Ben .Jay Graydon is up with the best Guitar players in the world very funny regarding Perfect pitch love his use of chord structures which is how i compose songs made we feel so good ( Chuck Magione)my Favourite Guitar Music interview
6what a legend Jay Graydon and what a great musician. I hope you go ahead and start putting into video all these stories or they'll be lost forever Jay!!
Great interview
Such an interesting guy with amazing insights into music and recording.
If you have a solo on a Steely Dan album, you're a MONSTER!!!
Yeah. To make the cut. Amazing!
What a great interview. JG is such an articulate guy & clearly a sharp cookie. Good selection of questions too
I love Ted Greene. He was such a wonderful teacher and an even better person...btw I also love Jay and Ben too!
Jay is brilliant. He has had an unreal musical career because of that.
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this incredible interview, thank you for making this happen. Would have loved to hear much more about the Airplay album in 1980. Jay is awesome and of course I could talk to him for hours if I could (like you said). Heading out to Malibu in a couple weeks…would love to meet him.
Thanks so much for watching! I really appreciate it.
Great interview and even though there was a lot of technical stuff, I was not bored at all. Jay is a great talker and I loved his story of him telling George Benson that he wasn't the right guitarist for a particular track. I hope that Jay manages to get his directory of session players together.
Jay is a legend. Check out his work with Marc Jordan ( Blue Dessert). & Cory Wells ( Hard Times)
Blue Desert is one of my top three albums. I would recommend “Knock the Walls Down” by Steve Kipner for more Graydon (on git and as producer).
@@pere4487 I have that one, Jay at his best on "the ending"
Jay Graydon is the coolest guy on the planet. I love his stories which he tells with flair and honesty. LOVE this stuff man. And Ben’s playing is just insanely creative and dazzling.
Thanks for posting this.
Thanks Michael, so glad you enjoyed it
Loved it...thanks!
That was a great interview!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Of all the Graydon-esque guitar parts I've heard, the very last guitar part of 'Cryin' All Night' by Airplay is just pure Graydon, it's fantastic.
Hey thanks for the video I have to say that I’m a Rhodes guy still have my 88 suitcase mark 1 but I think I’m gonna buy the E Rhodes from Jay can’t wait to have it in my studio
thanks for watching! The E is fantastic, I use it myself and it sounds great!
Thanks for sharing this stunning interview with this legend of all times! It is not often you get deadlocked to a post like this on the tube - but this one is a must for all of us that grew up with the west coast era and all the fantastic cats behind the masterpieces from those days. Just like reading Luke´s "Gospel..." book this interview gives you some marvellous behind-the-scenes stories from Jay - thanks to Ben asking the right questions! And just to quote and honor the great late Al Jarreau - this whole clip was So Good!
So glad you enjoyed it! And yes - Steve Lukather’s book was incredible, I read it in one sitting!
Incredible interview!
Thanks Nick!
Thanks for talking about "Paradise"." Lite Me Up is one of Herbie's best. The album is a lost gem. Incredible chord changes.
Thanks so much for watching! I had to ask Jay about it as I’d never heard him discuss it before, and it’s such an interesting addition to Herbie’s discography - a lost gem indeed!
Great interview Ben! I’m a huge Jay Graydon fan. There’s a reason my studio has NS1000s in it……
I just love listening to Jay. He has so many amazing experiences, insights, and fun stories to share. Thanks so much man!
Great job! Great interview!
Great interview! Would be cool to see you do more of them!
One hell of a musician ! - Love the way Jay tells his stories !
The BBC did a 2 part docu. called " I can go for that : the smooth world of yacht rock."
about how all the great music we loved to listen to back then - Got clumpped together as "Yacht Rock " ? - So all the kids nowadays know great music as Yacht Rock ? - And they think its always been called that ? Ha !
And on one snippet in the 2nd docu - Steve Lukather & Steve Pocaro from Toto were telling their stories about their Band & Songs etc - And Jays name came up ! - Mainly about when Jay was writing a song for George Benson ! - Jay had 4 days to write a song ! - He had been sat at the piano and had hit a brick wall his mind was blank ! - For two days nothing - And he went to the Can & While sat their on the can - The opening riff to what would be "Turn your love around" ! - And Steve Lukather tells this story ! - The only way Steve Lukathor could haha ?
I love George Benson - What a Guitarist - But when I hear this track - "Turn your love around " - In my mind I just cannot get that guy Jay Graydon sat on his crapper ! - Composing & coming up with this great song - Just cannot get him out of my mind ! - Haha !
I really wonder what George thinks about this song while he's singing it ? - Does he know where it was composed ?
Hey back in the day ! - We took for granted that Pot was used by some * in the writing of music & lyrics (even books) - But not that Pot you sit on ? Haha !
SB British Isles * please note I'm not implying that anyone I've mentioned here has ever used Pot !
Great Interview love it ! - Well done Ben !!
💯 agreed
Only complaint: too short! :)) Would have loved to hear more about his gear-or rather, his relationship with the builders. Mr Graydon is the reason I owned a Rivera R55-12. Best amp I ever had.
Man I'm glad I found this channel... insane chops and music geeks just geeking out.. and a fantastic interview with a legend. So cool to see so much mutual respect and humility.
Thanks Rob!
Amazing. Thanks for doing this!
Interesting interview.
Great interview Ben. I’m always struck with how self effacing Jay is (also positive). Great guy! I would love to see the movie/biopic he wants to put together.
Thanks Tom!
So cool to see! Big love homie
He is a Giant. All the albums I love, he appears on them. Awesome! Very happy to have found this very interesting interview of the Legendary Jay Graydon.
A legend ... and humble too! Great interview.
Awesome Interview Ben🎸《☆》I gotta find Jays channel👍✔He's probably the Cat with perfect pitch🖖🤓🏈
This guy was and is such a pro
Very interesting conversation. Thanks Ben.
hey ben, you really good at this interview stuff.
So glad this exists!!!
Great work here Ben. Sis tells me that Jay has been talking about doing an interview in the land down under for some time now and to me, you've nailed it. As you've found out, he has so many stories to tell, not to mention his brilliant and highly esteemed abilities as a player, composer and producer of top quality music. Excellent stuff, take care and best wishes for the future.
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
@@beneunson love your playing too. Jay is right - he doesn't give praise unless he loves what you do. Keep it up, been listening to your take on Giant Steps.
Jay has some really cool interesting stories. Glad he could share them with all of us out here...Nice job Ben and thanks Jay!
Phil
NYC Area
Thanks for watching, Phil!
@@beneunson My pleasure Ben...
Did Jay ever get a channel on here. I couldn't find it if he did....All the best.
Phil
NYC Area
Thank you for this great conversation. Jay is a regular guy, reminds me of hanging with my own friends, other than his great success, endless depth of musical knowledge and creative talent. I don’t know if it’s part of a person’s genetic code, but virtually every musician I know talks just like Jay. We refer to individuals as “cat”, we say “dig” relative to appreciating or enjoying something and most express the same level of excitement as Jay when meeting a gifted player. Jay really impressed me the way he recognized and encourages other musicians. I’ve encountered many who are petty or jealous of people who have more skills or talent. I’ve quit more bands than I can recall rather than deal with egomaniacs. Ashamed to admit, when I was 19, I went to audition for a band, but after the audition, I told them I wasn’t interested because I was “better” than they were and wanted to play with cats who were better than me. In hindsight, I made the right choice for me, but I’ve never been the kind of guy to bluntly say “…I’m too good for you…” in anything.
The Al Jarreau albums he collaborated on were the soundtrack to my life in the 80s. At the time, I didn’t pay attention to who played or produced the music, I just dug it. This was a treat, thank you so much.
Thanks for watching, Jim!
Highest compliments to you for this outstanding interview.
Thank you so much for watching!
that was great ben ! by the way you deserve all the compliments jay adressed to you ! (suscribed)
Nice those two Yamaha NS1000!
I have a pair in my studio. Love them! I spotted them at a pawn shop in the ‘90’s. The guy didn’t know what he had and I got them for next to nothing. They are heavy as heck though!
I have a pair. Pretty much a waste on my now because I'm 100% deaf in one ear!
That track with Rita Coolidge was amazing!
Thanks so much for watching!
The track was called” the jealous kind” sung by Rita Coolidge.
Fabulous interview!
great interview! thanks for sharing this!
Yes.
Jay, I beg you pardon, don't forget Milcho Leviev (piano & arrangements) in the two incredible albums Breaking Away and Mecca for Moderns...
Brilliant pianist, I loved his playing with Billy Cobham
was anxiously waiting for an update on JaRII ☹
Good question- I spoke to Jay briefly about it and he says it’s on the way! I may post a short part 2 of some extra things we discussed, including JaR
Graydon´s playing on Steve Kipner´s "Knock the Walls Down" and the Marc Jordan "Blue Desert" album, is unbelievable.
"You're gonna become a jazzer? What are you going to do with that?" So true.
I had a Ted Green chord book .the best
Love,love Jay
First hearing him in the early 80's.
He is a huge influence and inspiration to me.
Plus he Steve Lukather best bud...
Sir Jay, when are you going to show your channel here in
RUclips?
Jay's channel will be coming in the next couple of months 😀
Al Jarreau’s “Breaking Away” is still a phenomenal Jazz-Pop album!!!!! 👍🙂
It is! An incredible album and one of my favorites!!
wonderful Jay Graydon. ..i d wish to send you my song ( Happy to have Keith Carlock on board) and to have your opinion... I adore your guitare playing... Mr.Gregg
What a guy
I know Jay played on a lot of great music for many artists, but I'm a little surprised he didn't mention his work on some of Gino Vanelli's albums, especially 'Gist of The Gemini" and "Storm at Sunup!
He’s the Einstein of music production.
Hope Jay gets do make this documentary
"Hired gun" documentary should be part 1 of docuseries.
"....Amongst the Arts, Music is the most powerful one because can make you happy or make you cry and yet, it's just a Sound that you can't even see!"
(Arthur Schopenhauer)
Carus Alambra
Jay Graydon and Louie Shelton = legends
Native Instruments has the E?
You can find it here, it runs in Kontakt Player: www.orangetreesamples.com/products/the-famous-e-electric-piano
If you want to hear something cool, listen to Jay play the solo on Manhattan Transfer 's Twilight Tone. BTW, he produced the record.
Jay's work on that album is brilliant all around - great suggestion!
Love JAR Scene 29