Happy Halloween

oops. i really fucked up this time.

R.I.P. Merl Saunders

from jambase -
Merl Saunders was born Merl Saunders Washington (he dropped the "Washington" for show biz purposes) in San Mateo, California on February 14, 1934; he passed away early this morning (October 24, 2008) at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco.

Saunders grew up in San Francisco and was a proficient piano player by age 10. He attended Polytechnic High School, Served in the Air Force and Attended University of Mainz in Germany. Saunders married Betty Crenshaw and leaves behind three children (Anthony Saunders, Merl Saunders Jr., Susan Saunders) and a number of grand kids.

Saunders became one of the preeminent Hammond B-3 player of his generation; beginning his long strange trip by apprenticing with the great Jimmy Smith. In 1970 Saunders began playing with Jerry Garcia in the Bay Area under bands called Legion of Mary and then Garcia/Saunders. The duo recorded a number of famous albums including Heavy Turbulence, Fire Up, and Live at the Keystone. Their 1990 collaboration, Blues from the Rainforest, was a Billboard Top 10 in the New Age category.

Saunders contributed to the Grateful Dead album Grateful Dead (1971), and in the mid-1980s worked with the band as musical director for the "Twilight Zone" television show.

He became known as the senior member of the jam band scene having played with Phish, Blues Traveler and Widespread Panic. He was instrumental in allowing young talent to play and record with him, giving first opportunity to the likes of Sheila E, Chris Hayes (Huey Lewis & the News), Bonnie Hayes (Billy Idol) and Bob Steeler (Hot Tuna).

In parallel to his rock career, Saunders worked as a jazz trio player, performing and recording with Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, and Paul Butterfield. He also contributed to the scores of the films "Heavy Traffic" and "Fritz the Cat."

a take on hope

just wanted to share one of the great takes on Fairey's Obama/Hope design. straight from Hoff's site, this one is good but the best one has to be the Palin/Nope design that i just ordered as a t shirt. wait 'till you see me rockin' this shit beyaatches.

Cheech & Chong on Tour

I just read a great review of a Cheech and Chong performance at jambase.com, here. I also grew up listening to these guys. I still have their albums that I stole from my brother and dad when I was a kid. Yes...my copy of Big Bambu still has the GIANT rolling paper in it! I really hope they bring this tour to our area.

Jane's Addiction Reunites!

There has been some speculation online about a secret Jane's Addiction show this week. Well, there is no need to speculate... Jane's Addiction will be performing tonight (Thursday, October 23), at La Cita Bar (336 South Hill Street) in downtown Los Angeles. The night is hosted the band's friend, artist Shepard Fairey. This will be the first Jane's Addiction show in years with the original lineup of frontman Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins.

from jambase

Amendola & Parker Tonight @ the Palms

"Bay Area jazz player Scott Amendola is one of those rare drummers whose talent is so distinctive that he can be billed as the leader of the band. He has been nominated for a Grammy with the band T.J. Kirk, recorded three records with Charlie Hunter toured the world, and appeared on national television, and has recorded or performed with dozens of musicians, including Bill Frisell, John Zorn, Tony Furtado, Phil Lesh among many others. Amendola's inspiration stems from such stylistic influences as African music, jazz, blues, spirituals, rock, and the avant garde. He is among the most musical of drummers we have had the pleasure of listening to. This evening Amendola is joined by pioneering Chicago avant/jazz guitarist Jeff Parker. From his website: Jeff Parker is “ jazz guitarist with pro credentials, widely travelled and prized by top soul-jazzers and hard-boppers…inveterate rocker who revitalized Tortoise with his ferocious improvising and tasty licks…. experimentalist willing to try new dub, hip-hop,electronic, collage, free, chamber - anything worthwhile, irrespective of genre or orientation. Community expander, boundary buster, restless explorer - Jeff Parker is constantly trying out new things with new partners.” On bass is longtime Amendola collaborator Jeff Schifflett."

Dark Star Orchestra Tonight @ The Crest

i'm not a huge D.S.O. guy but tonight is all about supporting Jam Bands in Sac. not to mention, the Crest is my favorite local music venue, as underused as it is. hope to see some of you phreaks there!

like a pheonix

PHISH HAMPTON 2009 from Phish on Vimeo.

phreaks, phriends and phamily......the boys are back! a lot of you know this isn't a huge suprise to me but i must admit, the news left me feeling much happier thatn i had expected. happy isn't even the right word. i am filled with love, joy, gratitude, memories and great hopes for the future. i am here. now.

my ticket request is in. we'll see. no expectations. of course, my best man, bear, lives in virginia. of course, bear and i are known to have seen a phish show or 30 together. of course, we have scored into a handful of impossible shows too. we'll see.

just one thing. PLEASE, PLEASE don't come through the best coast around my wedding. PLEASE!