Happy Birthday Kyle Hollingsworth: Listen To The String Cheese Incident Perform At Inaugural Bonnaroo In 2002

The String Cheese Incident keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth celebrates his birthday today. Kyle was born on March 2, 1968 in Maryland and went on to major in music at Towson State University as well as playing in groups like the Baltimore-based psychedelic rock band Black Friday.

After moving to Boulder, Colorado, Kyle brought his talents to The String Cheese Incident in 1996. The keyboardist made ​​an immediate impact on the Cheese aesthetic, adding a jazzy funk element to the then mostly string band. The keyboardist also began contributing compositions to the SCI catalog, beginning on the 1998 album ‘Round The Wheel and he also lent his now rare “Latinissmo” to 2001’s Outside Inside.

During SCI’s second performance at the inaugural Bonnaroo on June 22, 2002, Hollingsworth and his bandmates teamed up with legendary musician Steve Winwood to perform “Latinissmo” and “I’m A Man.” The memorable festival set also came complete with additional guests, a bust out of a Led Zeppelin classic and more highlights.

Cheese kicked off the set with Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” ahead of a pairing of Jean Luc Ponty and Guy Nsangue’s “Mouna Bowa” as well as originals “On the Road” and “It Is What It Is.” Cheese then welcomed Steve Winwood, who joined Kyle in keys world by adding organ to “Latinissmo” which was left unfinished as the band headed into a tune from Winwood’s Spencer Davis Group days, “I’m A Man,” an SCI debut helmed by Steve and also featuring sax from Karl Denson.

Denson and his Tiny Universe bandmate trumpeter Chris Littlefield teamed up for some brass on the Hollingsworth-composed “¡BAM!.” The quintet would then go it alone for “Windy Mountain” before bringing Karl D and Littlefield back out for mandolinist/fiddler Michael Kang’s “Black And White.” Guitarist Bill Nershi then delivered his classic “Black Clouds” which segued into Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” seeing action for the first time in over a year. A well-jammed return to “Black Clouds” closed out the set.

SCI welcomed Samson on percussion — Jason Hann did not join the band as a full-time member until 2005 — for the two-song encore which began with “Search” encompassing a “Drums” section with Samson and drummer Michael Travis adding rhythmic fireworks. “Dirk” would bring the festival slot to a close.

To celebrate Kyle Hollingsworth’s birthday, hear Kyle jam with Steve Winwood and other guests during SCI’s second of two 2002 Bonnaroo appearances thanks to an audience recording taped by Craig Davis:

Setlist (via Friends Of Cheese)

Set: Walk this Way, Mouna Bowa > On the Road, It Is What It Is, Latinissmo¹* > I’m a Man¹², ¡BAM!²³, Windy Mountain, Black and White²³, Black Clouds > Kashmir > Black Clouds

Encore: Search^ > Drums^ > Search^, Dirk

Notes:

• * unfinished
• First Time Played: I’m a Man (Spencer Davis Group cover)
• Last Kashmir: 5/4/2001 – Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA [95 shows]
• ¹ with Steve Winwood on organ (and vocals for I’m a Man)
• ² with Karl Denson on sax
• ³ with Chris Littlefield on trumpet
• ^ with Samson on percussion