MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

So, I took a nap after work and picked up Teri. She too was celebrating a Birthday.
Got there and heard from the lot that they were already going at it!
Walked in, wished Ronnie a Happy Birthday, and first thing I noticed was no horn section. That was weird.
It was Volker on guitar/vocals. Don Bassey on bass. Chip Roland on keys. Gary Silva on drums.
This is plenty but that horn section was missed. So many of V's songs are arranged with horn sections. He writes some real nice arrangements. The guy is, in my humble opinion, a song writing genius!
The groove was fine, the dancin' crowd a blast, it felt like the good ol' days at the 'winds.

Skye O'Bannon sat in on harp and he sounded real good. He was in a serious mood and that was great to hear.
We had a short break and then Levi Lloyd sat in for a few. Like I said before....the best I ever hear from Levi is when he's sittin' in and man....was he on it!!
When he did that song, "Just keep on using me...'til you use me up..." it was killer!!

They invited Rob Watson up to sit in on bass and OH, MY GOD....the guy is a master on that thing!! He was playing lead on that thing, accenting with flare in all the right places, did one helluva solo, and pretty much stole the show!

I was talking with him before he went up and I just had to tell him, "Hey, I saw you on TV playing at the James Brown Memorial gig!". He flashed a t-shirt he had on commemorating the event and said, "You mean you saw that?" I said, "Yep, I watched it and noticed you up there playing guitar".
That was a trip too. I was watching this big ol' band up there just a funkin' it away and I looked and looked and sure enough, I knew that had to be Rob. I told the family, "Hey, Check this out! I know that guy!"
They all just said, "Yeah right, Whatever" and walked away.
That was a nice funeral I guess. James just laying out there with all this music and partying going on around him. That's how I wanna go. Just prop me up in a chair and let the party begin. But at my funeral....I want blues, blues, and more BLUES!
Just don't bring the religion or politics ( or Michael Jackson ;-) to my memorial.

Enough about funerals. We're talkin' about a Birthday here......

Glen Sullivan showed up and yes, he was invited up with his horn. That guy sounded like a whole horn section on that little ol' trumpet! He knew all the arrangements and everything! And he doesn't even play with them.

Gary Silva is just about one of the best drummers. All the tricks he's got under his sleeve keeps your interest all night. He's unpredictable and it makes it hard to keep up. He just jumps and skips all over the place all the while keeping perfect time. Amazing!!

Another great Birthday party by Ronnie. This is a Birthday tradition he has going that I hope continues on and on.
Like I said, the guy has great taste in music.

Picked up a couple more of Volker's Cds since I can't seem to keep ahold of mine. They were selling them for two for $25 and I said, "What?! That's all?" and gave them $40. I guess I should've picked up one more but that's not the point.
Took Teri home and she had fun celebrating her Birthday. Got home in time for a decent nights sleep before work.

Thank You, Ronnie. You know how to throw a Birthday Party!
Thank You, Tradewinds for hosting it.
Thank You, Volker Strifler Band for....well....just being so awesome.
Thank You, Blues Buds. It was great dancin' with ya.

Later,
Mo