Reunion

I first saw John Beach perform in 1971. A group he was in had played on Bonnie Raitt’s first album, John had done some of the arrangements. The band he was in, Willie and the Bees, was also the opening act at her ‘debut’ concert in Minneapolis' old Marigold Ballroom.  His performance that night left an indelible impression on me. John was already older than most of the guys who were playing in the bands I would go see; he was a true veteran, having been in the Army in the early 60s (where he played with a variety of groups.)

I met Paul Scher about six years later when I was working with a group named The Explodo Boys. He was five years younger than me. After one rehearsal he was invited to join the band. Ultimately, we ended up living in (and part-owning) the same house. After a few years, John ended up in the Explodos as well. When that group disbanded, John and Paul did a duo act for several months.

Last week Paul, who has lived in Brooklyn for many years, returned (for a wedding in his family) and he managed to land a gig with John. The show was great, a few missteps here and there,  overall it was a gas. John is well into his seventies now and is still performing in his unique jazz, soul, and blues styles. Paul is now a youthful sixty and remains active in the New York music scene. He has finally managed to acquire a few wrinkles of his own!

To be able to see them perform together again after over thirty years was musically and, in light of their history together, extremely emotionally satisfying for me—as well as for the other fans who crowded into the tiny, stuffy, and hot backroom of the Minneapolis Eagles lodge.

Two Tenors

Max Ray and Paul Scher, September 21, 2021

It was a pop-up concert held in a garage in Northeast Minneapolis.

Paul was in town for a wedding, he left his regular band in New York to fend for themselves for a few days. A few phone calls… some emails in the morning… by 5 PM the show was underway.

Paul was re-united with his old pal Max, it was a 50-year reunion, they met and bonded in high school. I met them both through the band I worked with, and they both became true friends—and even neighbors!

It is always great to hear them playing together:

Soloist

Paul Scher, Jimmy Derbis, Dehl Gallagher(hidden) Bootlegger Sam’s, Minneapolis, 1979

Playing mid-week usually allowed a more informal and intimate experience.

The frantic excesses of the Friday and Saturday night shows were fun, but a Wednesday or Thursday gig in a small University-area club gave the opportunity to stretch out, to explore musical ideas, to have some breathing room. And when the crowd was into it, Jimmy would lay out.

You could hear Paul's breathing as he played his silver alto sax and carried you away.

The Tonearms

Left to right:  Frankie Paradise,  Jerome Broughten,  Nick Radovich (on drums), Paul Scher, and  Larry Hayes

Another image from the Flippist Archives.

The Tonearms were a short-lived Minnesota blues band that was active in the early 1980s,  a turbulent era in local music. There was a (and still is) a vibrant blues scene centered around the Twin Cities, but the gig opportunities for a “straight” blues band were diminishing from a peak of a few years previous. The big names now were Prince, The Replacements and Hüsker Dü, none of whom were blues acts. Still, “da blooz” never dies, and this group definitely had credentials: Larry was one of the founders of Lamont Cranston (who were an inspiration for The Blues Brothers), Frankie and Paul were from The Explodo Boys, Jerome was an alum of Willie and the Bees, and Nick, well, Nick was Nick!

Music Mondays - #16

I Want to Take You Home (to See Mama)

Cover of a tune by the late and great Sly Johnson.

Left to right: Brad Gilboe drums, Paul Scher Sax, John Beach keyboard, Dan Rowles lead vocal and organ, Jerome Broughten guitar, Scott Snyder trumpet, John V. Peterson Bass guitar. Recorded live at Bootlegger Sam’s, Dinkytown Minneapolis, November 1979.

Video Potpourri

Here’s a quintet of memorable videos I’ve “discovered” in the past few months. There isn’t any coherent theme to these other than they are all wonderful examples of music performed at its highest level.

First up is Jill Sobule from a 1996 live performance on Conan O’Brien. This is a song from the kid movie Harriet the Spy but it is anything but juvenile. Literate, witty, a nice arrangement and a really great band (with my old pal Paul Scher on Bari sax):



Next is the venerable John Sebastian redoing one of his Lovin’ Spoonful hits in this video with the MonaLisa Twins. In what might have otherwise been a creepshow, JB, obviously enjoying this musical collaboration, manages to turn back the hands of time as the song rolls to its finish. The Twins are talented and charming, of course, and that is their real dad in the cameo:



Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt made a series of recordings together in the 1970s. Here they are doing a Neil Young cover; especially notable is the presence of a glass armonica in the band:



The next video is some kind of career high point for all five of its main performers: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Neil Young and… and… wait for it… Tom Jones!



Finally, if there was any question as to the depth of Dusty Springfield’s talent, this pairing of her with Mel Torme should silence all doubters:

Dave Ray Avenue

 The city of Saint Paul recently designated a three block section of Franklin Avenue as "Dave Ray Avenue". Dave was a musician from Saint Paul, featured here previously. With cohorts John Koerner and Tony Glover, Dave was a pioneer of the new generation of folk-blues musicians in the early 1960s, influencing numerous artists. I thought this would be a good excuse to revisit his fiftieth birthday party—a gathering of friends and family. All images taken in Minneapolis at the Cabooze night club in August of 1993, Dave is wearing a cap.

Setting up with Rochelle Becker (center):


Dave the raconteur:


Dave and Tony Glover:


Raymond Muxter (left) celebrates with fellow well wisher:


John Koerner and Tony Glover:


West Bank regulars:


Dave enjoys the scene:


Stylin’ among the fans:


Mary Grace and Sam Scher: