Mighty Field of Vision Net Radio and Foundation Annual Meeting and PARTY

Music: In the Beginning
Jerry W. Henry

 The day after Thanksgiving I had the honor of being invited to the Mighty Field of Vision Net Radio and Foundation Annual Meeting and party. This was at the home of Dick Cooper on Shoals Creek in the Muscle Shoals area of this great state. Dick and Becky were the perfect host and hostess. Speaking of perfect, this was the perfect country setting for this large party. The house is on a bluff over looking the lake. With the fall colors as a back drop the view was truly breath taking.

 Everyone at the party had one common bond — music. It transcended all else, past or present. Dick had three former girlfriends in attendance. Drive By Trucker, Patterson Hood, was on stage with his legendary bass player father, David Hood. In the audience was Patterson’s mother, Jan Adams, and stepmother, Judy. You get the idea, relationships didn’t matter, the music mattered.

There was a stage on the patio outside. The Shoals area has some of the best musicians anywhere. The talent was nothing short of world class. Just to name a few: Donnie Fritts, Pete Carr, Scott Boyer, Sonny Edwards, Slugger Allred, Stephen Foster, N.C. Thurman, Karen Gruber, and Drive By Trucker Jason Isabell.

Late night inside the house, music was coming from almost every room. A couple of guys trading guitar licks in Dick’s studio, Johnny Wyker and Pete Carr showing how it’s done on a dobro in the den, a full on jam in the living room.

 Some time after mid-night Stephan Foster, Sonny Edwards, Kahuna Plemons, and a couple more put on a clinic. They showed just how good, good gets. A young lady, Melissa, added back ground vocals. It was one of those unplanned, once in a life time thangs where it was a magical moment in music.

 Yes folks, music is alive and well in Muscle Shoals. I have invited them all to come to our Musicians Reunion and Super Jam at Rhythm and Brews on Thursday, December 7th. On that night we need to pass the hat for Joe Rudd who is at the VA fighting for his life against cancer. Joe is a huge part of T-town’s musical heritage. He made his living playing music.

While at the party, I got to see Eric Essix’s soon to be released CD. It’s great jazz from this great musician who is a Birmingham native.

 While talking about Birmingham folks, Moses Mayfield band has “The Live EP” CD/DVD which was recorded at Workplay. These guys have signed with Columbia.

 Also recorded at Workplay, Webb Wilder’s “Tough it Out!” CD/DVD (Landslide). Webb takes his music serious but always with humor. To me he is a mix of rockabilly jail house riffs and refined punk. His stuff is fun.

 I saw the Wood Brothers at Workplay last week. These 2 brothers are great. The night I saw them, the show was delayed because Chris, the bass wizard, was delayed by his airline on a flight from Boston. He made it as far as Atlanta but his upright bass did not. We waited as they drove him from Atlanta and he borrowed a bass.

 I have just finished listening to Birmingham’s Caddle new CD “Raise ‘Em High.” This is a great effort by this fun bar band. I would call this country punk. Topper Price sits in on the first cut “Mississippi Doublewide” and is hot as always. This is truly a enjoyable CD.

 And lastly, from Birmingham it’s a super show coming to the Alabama theater. In concert on February 18th John Hiatt, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, and Lyle Lovett.

 Putumayo World Music is the folks that bring you music from all over the world. I especially like their blues CD’s that show the far-reaching influence of blues. The influence of the blues on musicians is in every corner of the world. I have one of their releases from 1999 “Mali to Memphis” that has become one of my favorites. They team up American blues artists with musicians from all over the world. This year’s release “Blues Around the World” is another that will become a favorite for a lot of people. Taj Mahal Meets the Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar does a version of “Catfish Blues” that is truly rememberable take on this classic. Also Putumayo’s “New Orleans Christmas” is just as it’s name implies, Christmas music done in the New Orleans way. This is really good 

traditional Christmas music in blues, jazz and swing styles which New Orleans is famous for.

If you are a blues lover then a must have is the DVD, Antone’s Home of the Blues (Koch Vision). It’s the story of Clifford Antone and his legendary Austin blues club. Great bluesmen like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmie Vaughn, Pinetop Perkins, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, and many, many more.

Skydog (Backbeat Books) by Randy Poe is The Duane Allman Story. Reading this book makes you feel that Randy opened the door to the details that you always wanted to know. It’s the most complete work I have ever seen on The Allman Brothers. I hope to interview Randy in the very near future.

 While still in the library, Alabama native Paul Hemphill’s book Lovesick Blues (Penguin) on The Life of Hank Williams is a labor of love in that you can tell he has deep personal feelings for his subject. If you want the the real story this is the book.