Setlist
INtros Kareem Abdul Jabar, Master of Ceremonies

SET 1
Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy
Vulcan Worlds
Sorceress (with a cool funk jam for Al's solo)
Song To The Pharoah Kings

SET 2
Guitar Solo
No Mystery
Piano Solo
The Romantic Warrior
Bass Solo
Drum Solo
The Romantic Warrior (end)
Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant

Encores
Day Ride
Spain

A truly awesome show!! I scribbled teh setlist on my cellphone notepad.

First off, as you enter the hall to sit, "In A Silent Way" is playing with b&w pics of Zawinul and Miles on both sides of the stage. Both played the Universal stage.

Kareem Abdul-Jabar was emcee and he came on to introduce the RTF members. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but Jabar was instrumental in the promotions group that brought RtF to The Ahmanson in '75. My companions and I were super-stoked at the time and didn't pay any attention to the announcements. Jabar was gracious, but bemoaned the fact that Chick hails from Boston. I consider Stanley Clarke a tall guy, but he was dwarfed by Abdul-Jabar (poor Chick was a diminuitive elf). The place was packed, though not sold-out. This was the day before the Playboy Jazz Festival Weekend. I'm so glad they went with a separate booking and didn't sign on for that show!

Started with "Hymn" then Clarke came on to greet us and got us to sing "Happy B'day" to Chick". This led into "Vulcan worlds" which had a "Silly Putty" tease and very very funky drums from Lenny. It got more seriously funky with "Sorceress" and Al played some rhythm guitar.

Lenny greeted us and said how he wanted to be in a big band where everybody knew the tunes and we're that people. He also remarked how "in this era of boy bands, this is a man's band". Then Al and Chick scorched the staged with improv solos which led into "Song of the Pharoah kings" which got very very funky. Lenny lifted the roof off and it was intermission.

Pre-show, I had chugged back two Heferweizens at Karl Strauss and made a mad dash ot the restrooms. UGH! there was a line! It was ok, even dashed on some cologne and a pack of STARBURST for a $2 bathroom tip.

Kareem intro'd for the acoustic part of the evening and commented how he's an old bebopper. Al led it off with a couple of flamenco numbers, then Chick's piano solo led into "No Mystery". In the following "Romantic Warrior" Stan demonstrated his open-handed flamenco slap. The set closer was Duel of the Jester and teh Tyrant" WHEW! I was seated in Loge 11, right off the mixer. The opening synth strains had me juimping out my seat!

The encores were "Dayride" (Chick was on KEYtar and "Spain". THe audience clapped along a choruys of triplets. Starting promptly at 8Pm that was about 3.5 hours, allowing for the 20 minute intermission. Great deal! Great! Great! GOtta be a DVD. THERE WERE CAMERAS!!!

The crowd was familiar with local jazz and funk fans. I got hollered at by a babe who dug my "Stanley big 'fro big bass NYC '76" tee. Bunch of yokels hooped and hollered at the wild runs. Al Di Mi was lighting fast, but I'd give this show to Lenny. I glossed over it but Chick and Al also spoke to the crowd. A buddy drove up North and acknowledged this was very much superior. Says to blame the venue. They wanted to do 2 sets, nightclub style (Glad I didn't road trip!!!)

I'm kinda sad Jaco and Zawinul can't join Shorter for a reunion like this, but maybe Johnny Mac will get a version of MO together. Rtf should be an occasional group. Get some new material out and reunify every three or four years. They're truly awesome! DAMN! They're freakin' GREAT!!


Hopefully, Neals's got some pics to slap on this thread.

PFunkjazz said:

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What he said...Great show!

Not the greatest pics...










...but these are the ones that were the most in focus.




Lenny White had the best line of the show...

In an era of BOY bands, this is a MAN band.

...Well said.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Cool, I gotta cop these and put 'em on the PFunk board.

PFunkjazz said:

Go for it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Thanks!

I hope to go to hear them in August in Atlanta.....

This thread has served as my reminder to cop some tix