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Phil Lesh and Friends is a modern day supergroup. The casual name should not fool anyone. What began in 1999 as a simple summer project, allowing Phil Lesh to play with a revolving cast of his favorite musicians, has turned into arguably the most formidable band on the jam scene today.
Since the 2000 Fall tour, the lineup has consisted of Rob Barraco (keyboard and vocals); Warren Haynes (guitar and vocals); Jimmy Herring (guitar); John Molo (drums); and of course Phil himself. According to countless statements from each member, the band had a special dynamic from the beginning, and they have continued to play with an uncanny combination of telepathy and spontaneity. A live album, Love Will See You Through, was recorded in 1999, but the current band had yet to be preserved on record. After forming the Lapis Label in conjunction with Columbia Records, Phil announced the pending release of the band's debut album, There and Back Again.
The album is beautifully packaged, with complete lyrics bordered by upclose shots of the band members in action. Those fans who chose to pre-order the album were rewarded with the band's CD single, "Mason's Children," and a Limited Edition Bonus CD which includes an unreleased studio track, a video interview with Phil and three live cuts. In honor of the release date, the band hosted a CD-signing party at Virgin Records Megastore in NYC, followed by two performances at the intimate Irving Plaza club. Tickets sold out almost immediately, and those lucky enough to get tickets were in for a special night.
From the first note of the album, one detects a distinct energy to the performance which carries through the entire album. The track begins with a slide lick from Warren Haynes, which gives a good indication of the level of dominance he achieves on this album. In addition to his phenomenal guitar work, Warren receives a writing credit on four songs and sings six of the album's 11. The opening track, "Celebration," is a rock n' roll anthem for this band, a call to the fans to rejoice in the ability of this band and the success of this record. Rob Barraco handles the lead vocals, and his enthusiastic voice carries the message perfectly. "Celebration" is a perfect opening track, setting a high energy level and conveying a positive message.
The rockin' momentum continues on "Night of a 1000 Stars," the first of four new collaborations with longtime Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Fans are very familiar with this song, as it has been a jam vehicle in the live repertoire for over a year. The song is invigorated in its truncated form by a wide dynamic range and three fiery solos. A distinct Allman Brothers influence manifests itself in the form of a dual-guitar line preceding the piano solo. This influence appears throughout; Herring toured with the band during their Summer 2000 tour and Haynes is currently a member of the band.
The album is not all hard-driving rock. The pace abruptly changes with the third track, Warren's composition "The Real Thing." This track shows the diversity of Haynes's taste, with an electricified folk setting for the verse and a distinct country feel on the chorus. The lyrics are worth quoting: "He wore a song around his neck/Like some medal of honor/He carried his wisdom like a knife/An empty pocket was a temporary chain/Knowing you've got it coming ain't no crime." Jimmy Herring, arguably the most technically skilled guitarist of this era, graces "The Real Thing" with his most sensitive and poignant recorded solo to date. Employing an intricate combination of volume swells and ultra-clean bends, Herring makes his guitar gently weep, achieving a special sonority normally associated with the use of a slide. Jimmy is generally an unsung hero in this band, but when he steps to the forefront he always delivers. His compositional collaboration with Hunter, sung by Barraco, provides the album with the emotional depth of a ballad.
One of the album's biggest highlights is "Midnight Train," a jazzed-up blues composition by Lesh. His bass is dominant in the mix, and his quirky playing provides a thick foundation for this groove. Barraco takes his longest solo on the record, wailing through a distorted Fender Rhodes sound.
And speaking of Barraco, it is his composition, "Leave Me Out of This," which gives listeners the clearest glimpse into the improvisational powers of the band. Immediately this tune is bouncy and fun, sparked by wonderful rhythmic interplay between Herring and Barraco. This song also shows the influence of the Allman Brothers. "Leave Me Out of This" owes more to Chuck Leavell and the Brothers and Sisters album, whereas "Night of a 1000 Stars" stems more from a song like "Blue Sky." Jimmy Herring takes his solo way out there chromatically, and Barraco and Haynes can't resist joining in on the fun. The ensuing melee, drawing heavily on concepts of group improvisation, Zambi and free jazz, shows the band in its finest form. The song would have worked perfectly without the section, but the band members' ears are so finely tuned that they were able to produce an intricate conversation and then jump right back into the song.
As if these are not enough reasons to purchase the album, there are two more songs to mention. In "Patchwork Quilt," a live staple since October 2000, Warren Haynes sings openly about the emotional response within the music community to Jerry Garcia's death. Also, fans are treated to the song "Liberty," a Garcia/Hunter collaboration that has never been recorded.
There and Back Again is a very strong debut for Phil Lesh & Friends. The album encompasses a variety of musical styles, including rock n' roll, folk, country, ballad, funky shuffle, boogie-woogie, jazzy blues, and even reggae. The one element of Phil Lesh & Friends' performance that the record does not showcase often enough, however, is group improvisation. One can certainly hear the equal contributions of band members, feeding off and expanding upon each other's improvisatory ideas. The band, however, isn't given the kind of free reign it has onstage to fully explore these possibilities. Whether this was a conscious decision made by the band, or a product of some level of record company involvement, it does not severely hinder the effectiveness of the record.
Rob Moose
JamBase | East Coast
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