Jam Cruise 22: Day 3 (Monday, February 9)
[Thanks as always to the amazing Jam Cruise photographers for their tireless work!
Chris Baldwin, Gabby Barbieri, Ariel Opal Feldman, Jason Myers, Zach Smith, Josh Timmermans & Dave Vann]
Many Jam Cruisers took the opportunity to stretch their legs on dry land in Grand Turk, hit the beach, do a bit of shopping, or just relax. Others appreciated the chance to sleep in for a bit. It was NEON Day, and Positive Legacy did their magical thing on Grand Turk .
As a reminder, my Jam Cruise reports obviously only cover shows I attended, as you cannot hear them all. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.
In my push to publish the Day 2 report, I missed the opening Pool Deck set from the revered Medeski Martin & Wood. I will correct that injustice Tuesday.
First official stop (after dinner) was the Atrium for Aron Magner’s piano set. The Disco Biscuits keyboard master played some solo tunes; I caught Jimi’s “Castles Made of Sand.” He invited Kanika Moore to join him on a Bob Weir song neither of them had performed before: “Looks Like Rain.” Lovely.
Magner told us that the brand new album from his side project Spaga had just arrived, and he invited a member of the audience at random to help with the first unboxing of the vinyl. The lady opened the box, revealing copies of Spaga Plays Dead, and he had the woman take two copies for her “trouble.” Magner next called up fellow Biscuits Marc Brownstein and newly minted drummer Marlon B. Lewis to join him and Kanika as they played Stevie Wonder’s “He’s Misstra Know-It-All.” FABULOUS!
The theater was hosting GEOLEO, the pairing of original Meters George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli. Ivan Neville, nephew of the late Art Neville, The Meters’ keyboard player and leader of Dumpstaphunk, played keys and added important vocals, and Stanton Moore of Galactic took the drum chair.
The set featured all sorts of gems, including (at least) five tracks from Rejuvenation. After “People Say” and “What ‘cha Say,” Leo talked about the upcoming Jazz Fest show May 2 with George, Ivan, and original drummer Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste. That hadn’t happened, he quipped, in 95 years. He reminded that the show was sold out and a second scheduled for April 24, “two in a month,” George observed. “150 years,” Leo countered.
George said they were going to reach way back, “troglodyte style,” for “Cissy Strut.” During the glorious “Just Kissed My Baby,” they were joined by the amazing Dumpstaphunk horns – Alex Wasily and John Michael Branford – and they were simply brilliant. The set came to a roaring conclusion with – what else? – “It Ain’t No Use.” Truly mind-blowing.
Heading astern, the first rave-up encountered was in the Atrium with Mihali again having a party with everyone invited. It was a joyous time there.
The Black & White was trying to contain Lachy Doley, but the madman from Australia was having none of it, romping through originals and covers on Hammond B3 and his prized whammy clavinet. The dancing was an infectious result.
It was Lettuce’s turn next in the theater. I love writing that the sound was pristine once again. They were firing on all six cylinders, as usual, and they covered songs from their catalog. Nigel Hall sang a heartfelt “Rise to the Top,” and Schmeaans in particular was incredible on guitar. As noted every time, the rhythm section of Adam Deitch and Jesus Coomes killed.
Benny Bloom (trumpet) and Ryan Gerlach (saxes) were already blowing up a storm before they invited the Dumpstaphunk boys Alex Wasily (trombone) and John Michael Bradford (trumpet) to come up and double our pleasure, which they certainly did. Bradford in particular got really nice solo space. As they wound down with “Madison Square,” Hall reminded us to love each other, that theme of positivity that runs through almost every band on board. He began singing the James Brown anthem “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I’ll Get It Myself)” and morphed that into the Lettuce theme “Do It Like You Do.” What a fine show!
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Indianapolis quartet Dizgo made the very most of their first impression with a brilliant Pool Deck set that wove through funk, rock, disco, and jam for a wonderful dance party. They opened with a powerful 15-minute trip through “Rainbow Lightning,” then “Grand Ol’ Time” before guitarist Andrew Pickel asked hopefully, “I hope you brought your dancing boots!” A fabulous romp through “Canned Heat” (Jamiroquai) really upped the dancing frenzy.
Next up was fan favorite “It’s Alright” with its falsetto chorus “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” Jake Evatt used all his keyboards effectively throughout the set, and, fulfilling the Jam Cruise mantra that the rhythm section is paramount, Kevin Hinnefeld (bass) and Justin Clark (drums) crushed. Dizgo also offered up a fun cover of Bill Nershi’s “Jellyfish.”
A Cecil B. deMille cast of hundreds swarmed the Jam Room stage as Jam Cruise queen Kanika Moore was leading her minions through “Whole Lotta Love” and “Black Dog.” Among the cast: Adam Deitch, DJ Williams, Pete Shand, and, well, a lot more.
And speaking of a LOT, The Spot was filled to overflowing with musicians of every shape and size and musical device for unbridled fun, with such notable tunes as “In the Air Tonight” and “Shakedown Street.”