-----Original Message-----
From: Malcolm Welbourne <papamali1@hotmail.com>
To: papamali@tmail.com
Subject: I'm back! (and givin' big props)
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:28:03 -0600
Greetings, all you faithful!
Well, I did it again...how long has it been? Too long, that's how long.
It is just way too easy for me to slip into a time warp when I have just
a tiny bit of downtime.
And by this I mean: time not spent driving down the road.
Real downtime...what's that? When I do have a little time off, I am
busier than many - producing records by artists like the amazing Ruthie
Foster (more to come on this subject) and playing with my Austin friends
and side projects ( like Cyril Neville and Tribe 13 and The Imperial
Golden Crown Harmonizers).
Don't get me wrong - I continue to play all over the country these days,
mostly flying out to distant locales for a week or so at a time.
But this still feels like downtime by comparison - for the last three
years (as those of you who have followed this sojurn already know) I
have been relentless in my road dog mentality. My credo: "Take the music
to the far corners of the universe....play, and they will come...no
drive too far, no audience too distant." Over 200,000 miles of
coast-to-coast touring by van ( not counting fly miles) and over 200
shows a year.
The reward? All of the love and support I receive from the fans - music
lovers, like yourself, who just can't seem to get enough. Y'all truly
are the best!
So forgive me for falling behind in my correspondence - when I get a
tiny bit of freetime, I have a tendency to turn off the cell phone and
avoid the computer to make time for really important things...like
fishing....and hanging out with old friends and loved ones...and digging
around thrift stores for old vinyl...and cooking. And of course there is
the vast, consuming love of the guitar, the endless quest for the magic
in a song and all the things that go along with it...
Anyway, spring has arrived and since I last checked in there have been
lots of cool gigs, friendly people and now, with SXSW in the recent
rearview mirror and Jazzfest on the near horizon I am gearing up for
what promises to be an action packed year of serving up some fonky and
freak-a-fied soul food for your fried and frazzled badselves.
Helping me along the way is the usual cast of characters - the great
Robb Kidd on drums, Kevin T. White on bass, producer Dan Prothero ( who
promises that the long-awaited follow-up to Thunder Chicken is getting
the final, finishing touches and is just around the bend....no, really)
and a never-ending parade of the best musicians and fans on the
planet...
Also deserving special mention is my manager, Brandon Mann, who has done
the impossible task of raising my national profile significantly in the
last couple of years without any new product. Thanks, my brother! Good
things come to those who wait. I know...I know...
Now, at the risk of sounding like a name-dropping, starstruck punk (I
prefer to think of it as friendly shout-out to my peeps, although there
is a side of me that is 'the eternal fan', even with artists who have
been my friend for years), here are some recent highlights and previews,
starting with:
The Christmas show last December at the Boulder Theatre w/Otis Taylor,
Charlie Musselwhite, Henry Butler and The Motet. It was an honor to be
on such a stellar bill and to play with my old friends Henry and Otis
and new friend Charlie.
Jamcruise...wow, what an adventure. Thanks to Annabelle for making it
happen and giving me the chance to meet and perform with some musicians
whom I have long admired from afar ( Karl Denson, Chris Littlefield,
Steve Kimock, Eric Krasno, Will Bernard) and jam with some old pals (
Robert Walter, Galactic, Brad Houser, New Monsoon ). And as always, it's
the fans that make it an event to remember.
Galactic. The tour i did with these guys was illuminating for me. After
ten years together, these guys not only continue to pack 'em in, night
after night, delivering their unique brand of sweaty,
post-retro-yet-modern, edgy, improv-driven funk (as only a New Orleans
band can)... but, perhaps more importantly, they still treat each other
like brothers. And check this out. They treat others like brothers.
Their crew that is loyal to the end. Their fans. Even me. I was prepared
to rent a car and follow them from town-to-town, which is standard
procedure for an opening act. But "No way" they said..." you're riding
the tour bus with us!" And ride we did. And share our music and our
stories and our laughs and our kicks. Thanks, guys. I am really looking
forward to The Roxy in Atlanta and Tipitina's during Jazzfest. (see
schedule and check the links page)
The Derek Trucks Band. I cannot say enough good things about this
extraordinary group of talented and giving musicians and the friendly
and accomodating people that are their crew.
Derek is without peers, in my humble opinion. I could watch this guy
play for years and never be less-than-inspired. We have joined them on
tour three times now, and each time it just gets better. Special thanks
for the sit-ins at the San Francisco shows. I was so upset to
hear recently that they lost much of their treasured vintage gear to
thieves. If anyone out there hears anything or has any info, please
contact the band at: www.derektrucksband.com
[http://www.derektrucksband.com]
...or, if you are not familiar with this genius of the slide guitar and
his fantastic band and music, do yourself a favor and visit the site
anyway - it is good for what ails you.
Double Trouble. Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon. Better known as the band
that provided the drums and bass muscle for the late, great Stevie Ray
Vaughn's rise to international stardom.
And guess what? Lately they have been doing a series of shows at world
famous nightclub, Antones in Austin, Tx. Each week they invite a special
guest to front what is surely one of the most well-respected rhythm
sections in rock and roll history. Guests have included guitar great
Eric Johnson, legendary vocalist Lou Ann Barton and West Texas
troubador, Joe Ely.
I have now had the honor to fill that slot not once, but twice, with
talk of more shows in weeks and months to come. I cannot begin to
express what a dream-come-true this has been to play and sing my
material with these giants. Also providing stellar keyboards and
assisting with vocals on these shows was the great Ivan Neville, who
between his duties with The Neville Brothers and Keith Richards leads
his own incredible group, Dumpstaphunk, which also features Ian Neville
on guitar and the unbelievable rhythm section of Tony Hall and Raymond
Weber (recently seen backing Dave Matthews and Trey Anastasio).
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The founding fathers of second-line brass
band funk (who played at my wedding when we were all much younger) were
in Austin this week recording a new record. So naturally, my podnah Kirk
Joseph ( the innovative sousaphonist and founding member of the 'Dozen,
now back after a long hiatus) calls me up to fall by the studio and
check it out. We cook up a gig on short notice at The Velvet Spade with
my friend and former drummer Dave 'Sniz' Robinson. 'Dozen
frontman/wildman/trumpeter E.T. says he'll be there...at showtime
suddenly baritone saxophonist Roger Lewis is there...and Peanut on
trombone... and next thing ya' know we got us an bonafide, impromptu
Papa Mali and the Dirty Dozen gig, goin' down live and direct in front
of a half-full club that cannot believe their eyes and ears! This didn't
stop a lot of thoughtful fans from whipping out their cell phones to let
friends know what was happenin', and within 20 minutes the place was
packed! Nice goin'!
Jazzfest is coming right up and I am so excited to tell you about this
show: on Thursday May 4, at DBA on Frenchman St., I will be performing
for the very first time onstage and in collaboration with the daddy of
'em all, R&B and N'awlins funk legend of legends, Eddie Bo!!! This show
is part of the Fog City Records 10th Anniversary celebrations and will
feature 'an evening with' intimate setting of Eddie on vocal and piano,
me on vocal and guitar, the aforementioned Kirk Joseph on sousaphone and
Robb Kidd on drums. Tickets are on sale and are sure to sell out, so buy
'em early. Also, as part of the Fog City festivites is a show the
previous Sunday( April 30) at Preservation Hall with JJ Grey (MOFRO) ,
Robert Walter, George Sluppick and yours truly.
And of course there is the big Galactic/Papa Mali show at Tipitina's on
Thursday April 27.
More Jazzfest dates TBA soon, including 'Papa Mali's Second Annual Stone
Soul Picnic'.
Last but certainly not least:
I am thrilled to have recently been inducted into The Austin Music Hall
of Fame, as the founding member of The Killer Bees. This is a most
cherished moment in my long career, made especially meaningful by the
fact that this award is voted on by the citizens of Austin, and by the
legendary status of previous inductees and the proud heritage they bring
to the award and its' recipients. To be listed alongside many of my
greatest heroes - Leadbelly, Freddie King, Willie Nelson, T-Bone Walker,
Ornette Coleman, Lightnin Hopkins, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mance
Lipscomb, Buddy Holly, Doug Sahm...to name but a few - well, it feels
alright! Thank you, thank you and thank you!
PM
