Some Jerry, More Hammond (was Re: Jerry Garcia RIP)

[Greg Stritmater <senip@j51.com>]

> 
> I'm not sure what or where Greg Stritmater heard that Jerry died of drug
> related causes, but the only news out is that he died in his sleep from an
> apparent heart attack.  Though noone will argue that he was undoubdtedly in
> poor health, partially the result of years of not taking care of himself
> (including serious drug use) as well as his diabetes, the direct cause of his
> death has not been attributed to drug use (e.g. overdose, etc.) at this time.

        I realized after I sent the mail that I probably wasn't too clear. I 
was just comenting on his overall shape, in that way he died from drugs .. but
that's not too important at this moment. 
> 
> Joe (buzzfret)
> 
> P.S.  I agree with Greg - Jerry had phenomenal taste in keyboardists.  Melvin
> Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Merle Saunders (Jerry Garcia Band,
> Garcia-Saunders, Grateful Dead), and the late Brent Midland (Grateful Dead)
> are all great organ players.
> 

        Now to go in the Hammond-ish part of his life, I think I'll mostly 
miss seeing/hearing the Jerry Garcia band live. Melvin has one of the fattest
B-3 sounds that I've had the pleasure of hearing live. Another being 
Page McConnell, the Hammond/piano player for Phish, but that's another story.
(Hey Al, can you suggest that Page gets an email account and signs up on this 
list? :)) 

        Anyway, has anyone ever seen the Garcia band live? I LOVE the speakers
that Melvin uses. If I'm remebering right, he had a 122 (or two) and a huge bass
cabinet with a sticker on it saying "The Alien". My brother had 14th row seats 
at that show (It was at Madison Square Garden) I wish I could've gotten a better
look. But the sound didn't have a problem getting to my seats. You gotta love a 
sound man that's not afraid to put the hammond up loud in the mix :)

        As for Merle ... I DID get a great chance to see him REAL-close up. 
He was playing at a place in Peirmont, Ny (right by the Tappan Zee bridge) 
called 'The Turning Point'. It's a tiny place, but on occasion, has some great 
shows. I saw Merle Saunders there and was about 12 ft off the stage (well the 
furthest seat from the stage was maybe 60-70 ft anyway :)) I was in heaven!
Merle's got some really smoking tunes ... Anyone who likes some bluesy, funkish
music, check out 'Merle Saunders and Friends - Fire Up+' It's got a whole bunch
of great players and of course, some REAL good Organ/Clav/Synth. 


        Geez, I guess the longer you lurk around, the more it builds up. 


  Oh, while I'm writing, does anyone have some advice as to chopping a CV? 
Pros, Cons, threats :) Any info is apreciated. 


"Everybody funkin' but don't know how,          Greg Stritmater
You should've seen the bull when he funked      greg@zappa.j51.com
the cow. Funked so hard he saw some smoke,      senip@j51.com
He said 'let's get in the bed and funk like
folks'."        --George Clinton