Ike’s Tune
Ike Turner: The Foundational Fire of “Ike’s Tune”
This 2004 recording of “Ike’s Tune” captures a dynamic performance by Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm at the Jazz à Vienne festival in France, demonstrating the electric energy that made Turner a pioneer of rock and roll, jump blues, and R&B. As a bandleader, Turner was celebrated for his powerful stage presence and his command over his Kings of Rhythm, a group he led from the late 1940s until his death in 2007.
Turner’s guitar work on this instrumental track is quintessential. He was known for his “extreme guitar” style, characterized by a distinct tone described as having an “ice-pick-in-the-forehead treble and freight-train groove”. This approach often involved a fatter, more distorted sound, utilizing wide bends, “whammy shakes,” and rapid vibrato to pull “squalls and snarls” from his Fender. “Ike’s Tune” serves as a powerful, enduring testament to his technical skill and his central role in shaping the sound of American popular music.
Performance Details
| Song Title | Ike's Tune |
|---|---|
| Guitarist | Ike Turner |
| Band | Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm |
| Lineup | Ike Turner (Guitar, Piano, Leader), Leo Dombecki (Keyboards, Saxophone), Bill Ray (Drums), Armando Cepeda (Bass), Ryan Montana (Saxophone), Seth Blumberg (Guitar) |
| Event | Jazz à Vienne Festival |
| Venue | Théâtre Antique de Vienne |
| Location | Vienne, France |
| Date | November 19, 2025 |