The Herman Matthews & Friends Hang

OK, they're gonna do this again next Saturday night at 11:30. Everybody needs to spread the word, and then come out, or this thing will not last. That would be a shame, 'cuz these are seven top-shelf cats seriously throwin' down (btw- their day gig is with Tom Jones).
The lineup:

• Kenny Anderson
• Frank Strauss
• Brian Monroney
• Bill Churchville
• Ric Fierabracchi
• Mike Turnbull, and
• Herman Matthews

I had to shoot at 1600 ISO (hence the grainy, low-rez pics). The lighting was way weak, and the sax cat, bassist, and keyboardist were so in the dark I couldn't shoot them.

Below, Herman Matthews with Tim Scott and Brad Cordle after the set. Herman is the nicest cat! Really great to finally meet him after seein' him in concert from time to time over the years.

They saved the baddest for last, and John Wedemeyer walked in just at the end of their rippin' arrangement of "Freedom Jazz Dance." Bro', you missed a scorcher.

Shout it out. I'm gonna inquire as to whether someone there can re-aim their few overhead stage lamps and lose those ancient burned-out gels for better photography illumination and stage area coverage.

BTW, gotta make note of another upcoming event with our brother the esteemed Clint Holmes:

BREAKING:

8-10-08, 1:10 PM PDT (CNN) -- Soul singer and arranger Isaac Hayes, who won Grammy awards and an Oscar for the theme from the 1971 action film "Shaft," has died, sheriff's officials in Memphis, Tennessee, reported Sunday.

Relatives found Hayes, 65, unconscious in his home next to a still-running treadmill, said Steve Schular, a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.

Paramedics attempted to revive him and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m., the sheriff's department said.

No foul play is suspected, the agency said in a written statement.

Hayes was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis, playing in the studio's backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave in the 1960s.

He released his first solo album in 1967.

In 1971, the theme from "Shaft" became a pop hit and won an Academy Award for best original theme song. The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

That is too sad.