Guest Book

As EM said, thanks for posting that list Pam. I certainly can't say that I knew Ricky that well (or much at all), but I was fortunate enough to have seen him live several times and talked to him a time or two. The two biggest impressions he made on me were (1) a super-nice and friendly guy, very affable, approachable, etc.; and (2) the only guy I've ever met who was weirder and further "out there" than Capt. Weirdo himself: Col. Bruce Hampton. Bottom line: Ricky was a genius at what he did, and a crazy mofo in the process. I posted a couple things over at the HTW GB, reflecting the sentiments of some players who knew him well and played often with him. Y'all should check it out. A couple noticeable absences from the list Pam found (which I'm sure is just the tip of the iceburg).......Ricky played or produced for artists as diverse as The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, Stone Temple Pilots, and Stevie Wonder. He played and worked with Bruce Hampton through most of the 70s and 80s, including producing and playing on one of the greatest studio albums ever, Bruce's 1986 album "Arkansas" (seriously folks...it rivals the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds"...except more "out"). And of course, Ricky's split-personality and alter-ego "Lincoln Metcalf" was the conductor and artistic brains (diseased at that) behind the Zambiland Orcestra shows. Z.O. was not much more than an excuse for local Atlanta musicians to get together at least once a year w/o pre-conceived ideas about what "music" is/was....just a reason for the best musicians in Atlanta and nationwide to get together and make noise, and all for a good cause (proceeds usually benefitted the Atlanta Community Food Bank, among others). To put it in Warren terms, it was very similar to what I imagine "Ornette Coleman's Annual Christmas Jam" would've looked like. For a brief look at the last Zambiland ORchestra show, check out Oteil's site: http://www.oteilburbridge.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=27 Just wanted to add those few additional thoughts about Ricky. He will certainly be missed, though as Mosier said, I don't think it'll be fully realized for awhile down the road. In the meantime, I think I'm gonna play some of the most atonal Project Z and Apt. Projects shows I can find. Peace and Zambi to all..... Drew