DIXIE DREGS discography (top rated albums) and reviews
16/01/2020 18:42
One with the best jazz-rock fusion ensembles ever, the Dixie Dregs combined virtuoso method with eclecticism plus a sense of humor and spirit too frequently lacking in related projects. Guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Andy West played with each other as high-school students in Augusta, GA, in a conventional rock band named Dixie Grit. When Morse was expelled from school for refusing to reduce his hair, he enrolled at the University of Miami School of Music, exactly where he met violinist Allen Sloan, who had played using the Miami Philharmonic, and drummer Rod Morgenstein. The 3 decided to form a band, and Morse convinced West to come to Miami and join. the Dixie Dregs completed their lineup with keyboardist Steve Davidowski. Their 1st album, The Great Spectacular, was recorded for any class project in 1975 and later released by the band (it truly is long out of print). Following graduation, the quintet began playing live about the South and got its break just after opening for Sea Level on 1976, when a representative from Capricorn Records was impressed adequate to sign the band. Mark Parrish, a former member of Dixie Grit, replaced Davidowski for their official debut, 1977's Free Fall. Get a lot more details about dixiedregstour.com/dixi-dregs-tour-set-list-2018.html
Their follow-up, What If, proved to become one of their most artistically profitable albums, as well as the Dixie Dregs played at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival with T Lavitz replacing Parrish. Half of Night with the Living Dregs consists of excerpts from that concert. The group shortened its name for the Dregs for 1981's Unsung Heroes, and added each vocalists and three-time national fiddling champ Mark O'Connor, whose old-timey playing style added one more dimension to the group's sound, for Sector Typical. The Dregs then disbanded; the highly respected Morse formed his own band and recorded quite a few albums, later joining Kansas from 1986 to 1988, while Morgenstein hooked up with pop-metallists Winger.
The Dregs reunited briefly in 1988 for any series of live dates, but a full-fledged reunion didn't take place till 1992, with Morse, Lavitz, Morgenstein, and Dave LaRue in the Steve Morse Band in West's location. Allen Sloan rejoined only briefly, with his position then filled by ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra member Jerry Goodman. Bring 'Em Back Alive was culled from the group's tour, and 1994's Complete Circle was also nicely received. California Screamin' followed in early 2000.