The Jimmy Herring Band – Variety Playhouse – September 22, 2012 – Some thoughts and reflections

Humbling.  To see and hear music played at maybe the highest levels of mortal human capability.  Technically, it was jaw-droppingly stunning. I think I've only encountered two players anywhere close to this level of proficiency & dexterity - Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, and Allan Holdsworth.  Professionally the performance was of the highest quality – from the sound (after some gremlins were exorcised), to the lights, to the set-list and precision of the musicians.  However, the real magic that took place was in the interaction between the band members themselves.  There was an almost telepathic connection between all of them, seemingly being conducted through Jeff Sipe (AKA Apt. Q258) the drummer. He was ‘ground zero’ for just about everything that happened on stage – I’d NEVER seen or heard anything like it before (maybe I wasn’t paying attention before?).  Each player is a monster musician in their own right, but when they play together they ascend to a higher level.  They exemplify the Gestalt Theory of the’ whole being greater than the sum of its parts’.  The various dynamics taking place on that stage and in the theater resulted in a dizzying array and assault of the senses.  Jimmy has a tone he has perfected on his various Stratocasters and amp rig that cuts right into your soul.  His signature approach is a multi-modal scale run assault punctuated by impossibly melodic and beautiful chord overlays.   His tenure with Widespread Panic hasn’t stretched his ability, as much as it perfected his approach to the ‘jam’.  Jimmy has that rare and unique talent of playing just what the music calls for, not just gratuitous ‘shredding’ and show boating.  

The true highlight for me was to watch the interplay between Jimmy and Matt Slocum on Keyboards.  Throughout the evening I couldn’t help be reminded of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and how John McLaughlin and Jan Hammer used to spar with each other.  To round out this comparison they brought out Nickey Sanders on violin for a few tunes and strains of Jerry Goodman made the association complete.  You can tell Jimmy has been deeply influenced by McLaughlin, Holdsworth, Pat Martino, and Jeff Beck (to name a few).   

Part of the 2^nd set saw a decidedly ‘Beetlie’ influence with the George Harrison, Within You, Without You, and A Day in the Life.  The former tune started with an ethereal intro that took the entire theater to some mystic mountain in India, and then launched into a traditional Indian raga that transported us to another place & time, until Jimmy released the ‘Gods of Thunder’ and peeled our scalps back.  The latter tune, Day in the Life, was interesting in how Jimmy effectively used his guitar for what would have been the singer.  The song was spot on to the original, musically, until the part where it all comes apart, crashing and burning which then launched the band into a wild ‘free for all’ jam that blew the roof off.  The Col. Bruce Hampton made an appearance for a rousing rendition of, Fixin' to Die Rag and His Weirdness  delighted the crowd as he led the band through a hilarious 'play behind your head' routine that erupted into a wonder jam.  True to form, once the Col. was done, he put down his guitar and left the stage, even though the band was still playing - and he was gone as quickly as he appeared.    

They closed with what seemed almost anti climatic – it was a slow, low key interpretation of Ray Charles, Georgia on My Mind.  In a way, that was probably wise as it gave everyone a chance to start coming down out of the clouds.  I’m still in ‘shock and awe’ even as I write this Sunday morning. 

Its experiences like this that are not just life sustaining – they are life affirming!