By: M.J. Brady
he Dixie Dregs, later known as simply "The Dregs", came on the scene with this, the bands debut "Freefall", many unsuspecting listeners were taken aback at the incredible musicianship of this upstart fusion band. My initiation to the "Dregs" was watching them warm up for Stanley Clarke, the great bassist from Return to Forever, a long time fusion fan, it was a treat to see Clarke with his all-star fusion band coming here to Minnesota, though my friends and I had no idea that this no name band with a southern name was about to blow us away. We were about to dismiss them for another filler band to give the main act more time to get prepared for the big show. When they burst into the first song, and wow, after the the first song we were all stunned, what was that? Did we just see what we thought we saw? Well, the second song confirmed our disbelief, and with each passing song we all knew we were seeing history in the making. The very next day we all frantically combed local record stores to find albums by this band, I was the lucky one and found this record, which became one of my most worn out lps in a short time. Freefall, typifies the Dregs full repertoire of musical styles, easily one of the most diverse and creative bands of their era, and beyond. Through the album you will hear everything from funk driven, chicken picken' fusion, to baroque acoutic classical settings, bluegrass and jazz, rockabilly metal, and somethings that can only be described as Mahavishnu mixed with Little Feat (no singing however). This was to be a band for the ages, Steve Morse unknown at this time, showed he was both an incredible solo player, though his writing is the formula of the Dregs magic, he is to this day in a league of his own, particularly because of his well versed dedication to mastery in so many different styles, and blending them into this unique music. He also is surrounded by musical peers from a talent perspective, though the Dregs are his concept, he obviously was in need of superlative band mates to carry out the demanding compositions to full effect, and each member is more than up to the task, and each leaves an indelible mark on the music. Progressive? With out a doubt, this is music that covers all the bases in prog, except for vocals of course.
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