TRIBUTE TO DMB's LEROI MOORE, 1961-2008
Have I listened to the Dave Matthews Band since college in the late 90s? No. Did the news of saxophonist Leroi Moore's passing yesterday still throw me for a loop? Yes.
Moore, like his bandmates Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard and Boyd Tinsley, was at his core a jazz musician that excelled at incorporating the genre into Dave Matthews' quirky, mellow pop. Moore stated on the DMB website that he did not feel contrained by playing the band's amorphous jazz-rock -- far from it. He noted that his opportunities for improvisation were perhaps greater than if he were in a jazz combo.
This clip of "Loving Wings" serves as a pretty fitting tribute to Moore's versatility, understated playing, and downright chill vibe onstage -- definitely a key element of the band's overall stage presence. Moore's soprano solo begins around the four-minute mark.
Incredibly, the band performed its scheduled show last night at Los Angeles' Staples Center. All reports said it was a moving gig, with a setlist based on Moore's favorites. Including Loving Wings.
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Jami says
very sad a loss to the world, my prayers are with his family and DMB