Guest Book

Thanks for all the wishes, y'all a great bunch! Good to see BigMike in the house. OK, we saw Derek last night. The Count sitting in all night and Jimmy half the night. They were ready to play and we were treated to a band hitting on all cycles. You want to talk about hitting the note. Have mercy. This was the first time I have seen Derek that I could clearly understand Mike Mattison. By far the best mix ever for dTb shows I have attended. I am usually in the Derek zone, and can't hear the PA anyway, but this night, I opted for the seats. Mike was the most confident I have ever seen him, and he put on a show. It was very powerful, the performance of Mike Mattison. From a whisper to a scream, as the cliche goes. No set list, I get way too caught up in the music to keep up with such, but from the first note, Derek's tone entranced, and enraptured, and made whole, everyone with a beating heart. A sea of dancing and smiling people.... The opening notes to Teri Sahib>Maki>Teri provided me a moment of crystal clear clarity, the first of several. I am hearing the unadultered tone of some far higher entity, one that is very pleased to be so worshipped. Jimmy came out for the last song of the first set, and Kicking Bach was offered up, and a more gorgeous and intense version would be hard to imagine. The word virtuoso is a pale descriptor for musicians like Derek and Jimmy. The second set was amazing, of course. All night, the band was pushing the tempo, just fired up. Right from the first song. Reminded me of the ABB set from 9.16.71. High energy and uptempo. An amazing thing, Derek and Jimmy were 'trading fours', Jimmy would play a phrase, Derek would answer, etc...but instead of answering, Derek would continue the phrase. Then Jimmy, then Derek, then....well, you get the picture. One long line, or phrase, two guitars, one mind. There was also lots of traditional call and response, 'traditional' used loosely here. There was some sick and intense interplay. This will be a highly sought after tape....After a particularly brilliant solo from Todd, Mike says, "Todd Smallie, bass.....daaaaaaamn." Count M'Butu played his ass off, pure and simple. Kofi played some of the best flute solos I have ever heard from him, and his keyboard work was beyond superb. Rico fueled and propelled the band. His energy level was off the charts. They played all the good stuff...Afro Blue, Teri Sahib, Goin Down Slow, Gonna Move, Joyful Noise, Like Anyone Else, Leaving Trunk, 'Atlanta' Soul Stew, that really nice piano number that starts out...I wish I could Fly...or something like that, not sure of the name...Preachin Blues, Kickin Bach, Feel So Bad, Voluntered Slavery, For My Brother, 44 Blues, Freddy's Dead...prolly forgetting a couple... I was literally surrounded with good friends from the list and web site. I did not see Cee Cee, or Nancy Solomon-Stutts, or Steverino...the only disappointments of the night... It was also our 21st Anniversary, my beautiful wife and me. A very special night on many levels. Look out Charlotte, Derek and them are fired up! EAPFP