Dharma All Stars recap 8 January 19, 2015

Previous Dharma All Stars recaps: July 2008, September 2008, June 2009, July 2009, April 2010, August 2010, September 2011

For me, last week began with Lisa Hilton at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. The week ended closer to home – at Suite 1828 in Merrick – for another favorite of mine: John Favicchia‘s Dharma All Stars.

2011 marked the first time I saw Lisa Hilton, but it was the last time until last Friday that I had seen Dharma All Stars. I first saw them live a decade ago in Rockville Centre. I interviewed guitarist Chieli Minucci for my WCWP radio show – all interviews can be found here – and after we finished recording, he invited me to Dharma’s show, which was two weeks later, where he would be on guitar. I’m so glad I did. The People I’ve Met page includes pictures from some of the Dharma gigs I attended between July 2005 and March 2007. (Yes, I was much heavier back then.)

On Friday night, Dharma All Stars was led by John Favicchia on drums:

Steve Briody (“BRY-dee”) on guitar:

Brad Mason on trumpet…:

…and flugelhorn:

Coincidentally, Brad was at the first Dharma gig I attended.

Misha Tsiganov on keyboard:

…and Nick Lazarev on bass:

My interviews with John and Steve can also be found at the interviews page I linked to earlier.

The set list featured all my favorites:
1. Horizons
2. Coincidence
3. Sing a Song of Song (Kenny Garrett cover)
4. Black (Cedar Walton cover)
5. April Fools
6. Kukuc

John’s “Kukuc” solo:

When “Kukuc” ended, the crowd at the Suite stood up and cheered. Another spectacular show was in the books.

Afterward, my girlfriend took this picture of the Dharma All Stars along with Jeff Krasner and me:

Dharma will be back at Suite 1828 on Friday, March 13.