Rock supergroups are not yet dead. Dave Alvin recounts, “I had a crazy idea and was looking for musicians who perhaps didn’t think it was so insane.” There will be more on the inspiration for the inception of the group below but know that it includes Dave Alvin (guitar, vocals), Victor Krummnenacher (bass, vocals), David Immergluck (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Michael Jerome (drums, percussion) with special guest Jesse Sykes (guitar, vocals. The album features one original and five covers with two bonus tracks – remixes of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s “East/West,” mixed by legendary engineer Tchad Blake. This is old music that sounds refreshingly new in the hands of these masters, including compositions from a bizarre mix of writers – Alice Coltrane, Fred Neil, Bonnie Dobson (“Morning Dew” with Grateful Dead arrangement), Roky Erickson, and one written in the studio, in addition to “East/West” The songs are primarily identified with the 1960s underground scene as tribute to the open-minded music of that period and to its fearless musicians.
The catalyst for the project was Alvin’s reading of John Szwed’s biography of Miles Davis entitled So What, focused on Miles’ basically inventing fusion jazz with albums like Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson. This is Alvin’s reaction, “Basically, Miles would gather great musicians in a studio, pick a key and groove and then record everything live over several days. Then he and Teo Macero {his producer} would edit and shape these improvisations into compositions. Having never recorded like that, I had a fantasy to try it some day if the fates ever allowed.”
Alvin didn’t take action right away but a decade or more later he mentioned his fantasy to Krummenacher after a gig in San Francisco, where Alvin invited the bassist to jam on a couple of Grateful Dead tunes. When the two accidentally met in L.A. in 2018 Krummenacher mentioned that he was going to an improv gig and Alvin suggested they should do it sometime. This led t to Krummenacher recruiting Immergluck and Jerome while Alvin tapped the final piece, a singer, Jesse Sykes (“Sandy Denny meets Grace Slick”).
So, the group began this way, per Krummenacher – “Dave loves Mike Bloomfield, and Immy (Immergluck) owned one of Bloomfield’s old telecasters. With Dave wanting to stretch out, Paul Butterfield Band’s “East/West” seemed like the perfect song for the Third Mind to project to dig into. It was the first thing we recorded on the first day we were ever all in a room at the same time. It was better than I could have imagined.” Alvin adds, “We knew we had to get from Point A to Point Z somehow on each track, but we’d have to cut our own pathway to get there. Using the Miles Davis technique, there were no rehearsals or written musical arrangements. Just decide on a key, start recording and see what happens. During the sessions we simply sat in a circle and looked and listened closely to each other as we made everything up live on the spot. We chose songs/compositions primarily identified with the 1960s underground scene as a tribute to the open-minded music of that period as well as to the fearless musicians like Alice Coltrane, Michael Bloomfield, Fred Neil and Roky Erickson who helped create the sounds of that era.”
The deluxe edition included two remixes of “East/West” from renowned engineer Tchad Blake but the regular disc includes just six tracks, beginning with Alice Coltrane’s “Journey in Satchidananda” with Alvin cohort from his X days, DJ Bonebrake, adding vibes to represent Coltrane’s harpsichord, and round out the psychedelic, ethereal feel. Fred Neil’s “The Dolphins” follows with Skykes’ angelic vocals in perfect counterpoint to Alvin’s baritone, as the sweeping guitars awash in echo and reverb provide the hazy background. “Claudia Cardinale’ is the brief piece composed in the studio, serving as a kind of interlude before the explosive playing ensues first on “Morning Dew” and through “East/West” and “Reverberation.”
”Morning Dew” stays close to the Grateful Dead’s arrangement on Europe ’72 with Sykes providing the exquisite haunting vocals before the group keeps building to an explosive crescendo propelled by Jerome’s furious drumming, spurring on the dueling guitars. As you listen, Alvin almost always leans more into the bluesy higher notes, as Immergluck comps, adds fills, and keeps pushing the rhythm. With apologies to Jerry Garcia, and the many artists who have covered this song, this is the most spirited version of them all.
As “East/West” begins, one can tell that this was the first piece they tried, as the group noodles around before establishing the groove. As they settle in, it begins to build with guest Jack Rudy blowing the harmonica (representing Butterfield) as Alvin and Immergluck engage in a stunning, incendiary axe battle. As per usual the rhythm tandem pushes them both ahead while it ebbs and flows and then resumes the arresting groove. The aptly Erickson entitled ”Reverberation” adds the requisite, truly loud closer, with Alvin, Immergluck, and Krummenacher all on vocals with the guitars at full throttle.
Alvin concludes, “They were all on their game. For this accident. I think one or two were even a little high while we were doing it. And it’s good! It’s really good. Maybe I was high when the idea came up…maybe… but I’m glad I followed it through.” The dynamic of this recording is truly special. You’ll hear something new with each listen. It’s one to best listen to alone to appreciate the mind-blowing experience it delivers.
