MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

My only complaint, which I kept to myself til now, is that the
guitar was not loud enough. Everything except the bass was drowning
him out. And I was standing in front of his amp!

One other thing that concerned me is that Volker wasn't steppin' out
on that guitar. His solos were short but I must admit - sweet.
I was waiting and waiting for him to cut loose and really draw out
that guitar playing that he does so well. He was very generous to
the other players and it was well deserved, but you know me....I
want to hear that gitar!!
Well, the third and final set was mostly his. Well worth the wait
because he really let his guitar playing shine.

David Schrader was not there on sax but instead we had Al Garth to
take his place. This guy is most awesome. He and Volker on guitar
did some call and response type stuff on one song that had us
yelling for more. Al had the crowd going on many of his solos. What
a sax player!!

I finally caught onto Don Bassey's playing and it finally hit at
what a great bass player he really is. I mean I knew he could play
but it never dawned on at what a incricate player he is. Some real
fine bass leads.
I turned to Rolf and Anne and said, "You know....I think Don's great
looks are a distraction to what a great player he really is".

Gary Silva on drums had me laughing and trying to keep up at the
quick step but he is just to quick for me.
One of the best drummers around, no doubt.

At first break I snagged his new CD "The Dance Goes On" and high-
tailed it up to the van to put it away but instead gave it a quick
listen. I just couldn't wait. I skimmed through the songs by-passing
the familiar ones til I got to number four and I was in awe. "On A
Day Like Today' had me mesmerized. What a beautiful song!! I never
heard it Live at any of the shows.
I headed back down and told Volker about it and he played it first
thing on the second set. It was wonderful.

We all had our copies of the new CD in hand and headed home with
aching feet and growling tummies. We listened to the whole thing
almost in complete silence except for an occasional reflection on
the night that we shared with one another.
The Cd is superb. A real piece of art. The whole thing- not a bad
song on it.
I was very surprised at how many songs are really new to me because
I haven't heard them do them Live. I love new stuff and Volker has
much of it.
Just amazing.
Usually, when a new CD comes out from a local player who's shows you
attend often, you already know all the songs because they do them at
their shows.... but not the case here. They must rehearse ALOT!

I was told that I better stop for food on the way home or a certain
someone was gonna tear someones leg off she was so hungry. To be
honest...I was too. We stopped at Jack-in-the-Box on Tennesee St,
grabbed a sack of junk food and coffee's and headed back towards the
freeway. I missed our entrance, tried to redirect myself while
piggin' out on a Jumbo jack and I did sort of a illegal u-turn and a
cop pulled up behind me. I pulled to a stop he said, "You guys
alright? you're drivin' kind of crazy back there". He saw the
munchies in hand and I told him I was tryin' to find the freeway and
he pointed us in the right direction. What a nice guy, Vallejo's
finest indeed. I asked the gang if it was illegal to eat and drive
and they said, Not yet.

What a great night of dancin, singin',listenin', munchin' and just
hangin' with my blues buds.

Volker Strifler band will be at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on Dec.
2nd and I urge all of you to attend and pick up a CD. A must for
every blues collection.

later,
Mo