Jimmy Herring at Minglewood Hall

Man, 

It's Tuesday night in Memphis and the Tigers just lost to Kansas. What to do? Luckily, Jimmy Herring the lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Jazz is Dead and others just happened to be playing with his fusion band at Minglewood.  

The opening band featured local guitarist, James Ray, the big guy wrestling the acoustic below. I knew him from way back in the day and he was always one of those guys who just gets it. He can sing through the guitar. Talked to him after the show and he was still the same ol' James Ray. His band is called The Devil's Own, and they are a tight bluegrass band.  

James Ray with The Devil's Own

Jimmy Herring with Jeff Stipe

Fusion Jazz is not Dead

It's good to know that people will go see Fusion Jazz still today. Most of the kids were WSP heads, but there were some older people there as well. It seemed like everyone got the vibe except for a few of the tweakers. The vibe was low key, it was a tuesday and it was about the music, for me at least. Pretty sure he played an old Al Dimeola tune - hip stuff. And just to mention, Jeff Stipe is a bad MoFo. He was rocking the 6 string bass and at times, if I closed my eyes it was like being at a Weather Report show, or at least what I would have imagined it would have been like. Save for the keyboard player, who didn't have the greatest sound and seemed to be trying too hard. He played a lot of percussion style solos on the organs and the sound was no hammond B3. I have to say that he was the weak link in the chain, but it is all about Jimmy and Jeff anyway, they just need to keep him in the background more. That is my humble opinion.

Most of the time I get to see Jazz fusion, there are only about two other people in the audience. Good to see people out on a Tuesday night digging the tunes. Maybe there is still hope for musical music.