Music critic Benjy Eisen goes backstage with Umphrey’s McGee to investigate whether or not “America’s next big jamband” is actually a jamband. The answer is yes, but the band would rather shut up and play their guitars.
On May 31, 2003, Trey Anastasio played the second of two sold-out shows at San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre. On that night, Carlos Santana dropped by to say hello to Trey, ended up joining the ten-piece band on stage halfway through the first set, and continued to play with the group for the remainder of the night. The results were electric, suffused with spontaneous energy and exuberant interplay between the two guitarists.
As fate would have it, this once-in-a-lifetime performance was documented by a small video crew who were experimenting with a new production technique. The show’s blistering second set, plus a bonus track of “The Way I Feel” from the show’s first set will be released on DVD on April 26.
All net proceeds from the DVD will be split evenly between The Waterwheel Foundation and the Milagro Foundation, a non-profit founded by Deborah and Carlos Santana that serves underrepresented and underprivileged children in the areas of arts, health and education around the world.
The DVD is available exclusively from Phish Dry Goods and from the online Santana Store. Ordering is now available from Phish Dry Goods and will be available from Santana’s web site beginning early next week. Orders will be shipped beginning the last week of April.
The track list is as follows:
1. Mr. Completely
2. John the Revelator
3. Night Speaks to a Woman
4. Caravan
Bonus track: The Way I Feel
The DVD also features a photo gallery by photographer Jay Blakesberg and the MX Switch “wide-shot” option. Approximate Running Time: 84 minutes. The DVD is formatted for all regions in NTSC video.
To order, visit phish.com/drygoods and santana.com.
Eric Clapton has announced a North American tour that will kick off with an appearance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, which takes place June 4-6. The tour will include a triple-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York City and runs through the months of June and July, culminating in an August 2 appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
The Crossroads Guitar Festival will feature a mammoth concert at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, with a lineup that reads like a who’s who of modern blues, jazz and rock legends. B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Larry Carlton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Brian May, John Mayer, Pat Metheny, Otis Rush, Neal Schon, Hubert Sumlin, Steve Vai and more are booked to join Clapton onstage.
Clapton’s new album, Me And Mr. Johnson, consists of 14 renditions of tunes written and recorded in the 1930s by mythical Mississippi blues master Robert Johnson.
Source pollstar.com.
Los Angeles-based Latin rock outfit Ozomatli will release a new album June 22 via Concord Records. Beyond a previously announced collaboration with original MC Chali 2na and DJ Cut Chemist (both now of Jurassic 5), the set features contributions from Moroccan sinter player Hassan Hakmoun, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and pianist/labelmate Eddie Palmieri.
“Concord just seemed happy to let us go off and do our thing,” says horn player/vocalist Asdrubal Sierra, adding, “There’s a real sense of acceptance of what we do. Plus, I’m really honored to be on the same label as Eddie Palmieri. He’s my idol.”
Ozomatli is joined by Hakmoun, violinists the Les Yeux Noir and the Prague Symphony on album opener “Believe,” while Palmieri guests on “Nadie Te Tira.” The album also features new MC Jabu and former Wallflowers drummer Mario Calire.
“Since we started, our perspectives have changed as our lives have changed,” saxophonist Ulises Bella says of Ozomatli’s musical growth. “We just trust each other more now. Everyone gives everyone the space we all need. This band did not start, at all, to get a record deal. It started out of love for the music we made, and that’s exactly where we still are.”
Ozomatli is in the midst of a U.S. tour that plays Santa Barbara, Calif., tomorrow (April 9). On April 22, the group will return to play Austin, Texas, where two of its members were arrested last month after a performance at the South by Southwest festival. Bassist Willy Abers was charged with failure to obey the order of a police officer, while percussionist Jiro Yamaguchi was charged with assault on a public servant.
Here are Ozomatli’s tour dates:
April 9: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Coach House North)
April 10: Pomona, Calif. (Glass House)
April 13: Agoura Hills, Calif. (Canyon Club)
April 14: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
April 19: El Paso, Texas (Club Xscape)
April 22: Austin, Texas (La Zona Rosa)
April 23: New Orleans (Howlin’ Wolf)
April 27: Towson, Md. (Recher Theatre)
Sept. 3: Universal City, Calif. (Universal Amphitheatre)
Source billboard.com.
