Richard Cushing - bass, vocals David Skypeck - drums Brian Overstreet - guitars E.J. Dyce - trumpet, vocals
The Man
Herman Green - saxophone, flute, vocals
Additional Krewe
Captain Phil McGee - saxophone, vocals
Influences
FreeWorld has performed or recorded with such notables as: Levon Helm, The Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, Richie Havens, The Meters, Merl Saunders, Dr. John, Timothy Leary, James Cotton, Willie Mitchell, Jim Gaines, Roland Janes, Mojo Buford, Ace Cannon, Ivan Neville, Hot Tuna, Blues Traveler, Jon Fishman & Page McConnell (Phish), Rob Wasserman, The Derek Trucks Band, The Radiators, JGB, The Grandmothers (formerly The Mothers of Invention), Stephen Perkins & Tony Franklin (Banyan), Los Lobos, John Blackwell (Prince), John Avila (Oingo Boingo), Eric Garcia (Bob Dylan), Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm, Chad Taylor (Live), Tomasito Cruz (Arturo Sandoval), Rolando Briceno, Alex Chilton, The Bar-Kays, Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Syl Johnson, Steve Cropper, Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd), "Jim Dandy" Mangrum, George Porter Jr. & His Runnin' Pardners, Widespread Panic, Colonel Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Brian Stoltz, The North Mississippi All-Stars, Galactic, Drivin' & Cryin', Afroman, Henry Gross, Big Ass Truck, Deep Banana Blackout, Shawn Lane, Phineas Jr. & Calvin Newborn, George Coleman, Samurai Celestial, Teenie Hodges, Astral Project, The Rebirth Brass Band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, The Schwag, Robert Palmer, Jimmie Vaughan & Double Trouble, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Little Jimmy King, Sonny Burgess, Pete Pederson, The Cate Brothers, Todd Snider, Lonnie Shields, Kenny Neal, Rodd Bland (son of Bobby "Blue" Bland), Devon Allman (son of Greg), Jimmy Pryor, Blind Willie Dineen, Eric Gales, Ana Popovic, Preston Shannon, Ross Rice, Billy Gibson, Jothan Callins, Inner Circle, & touring members of the Broadway musical productions of "Stomp", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Grease", "Cats", "Chicago", "Celtic Women", "The Drowsy Chaperone", "Wicked", & "Hair".
FreeWorld has been an independent, regionally touring, ever-evolving Memphis-based musical ensemble since 1987. Drawing from influences as broad-based as Booker T. & the MG's, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan and The Meters, these brothers under one multicultural groove have remained a consistently entertaining and informed voice on the Memphis music scene since the group's inception.
Featuring 78-year-old jazz saxophone legend Herman Green (who has performed &/or recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, B.B. King, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Phineas & Calvin Newborn, Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, Stephen Perkins and a host of others during his 63 year professional music career), the group is literally 'new school meets old school', and has been variously described as "The best of Memphis, New Orleans, & San Francisco - all rolled into one fresh & excitingly unique musical experience!"
They've also had the privilege of sharing the stage with a wide variety of music legends over the years, such as Levon Helm, The Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, Richie Havens, Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks, Hot Tuna, Los Lobos, Merl Saunders, Dr. John, Timothy Leary, John Sinclair, The Bar-Kays, Ann Peebles, Steve Cropper, James Cotton, Mojo Buford, Jimmie Vaughan & Double Trouble, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, and Widespread Panic just to name a few.
"From the Bluff ", their 5th full length CD, was produced by none other than Memphis music icon Jim Dickinson - who has produced, performed and/or recorded with some of the most influential and successful recording artists of all time, including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, Arlo Guthrie, The Replacements, Big Star, and Ry Cooder among MANY others.
Recorded & mixed at his Zebra Ranch Studio in Coldwater, Mississippi, "From the Bluff " prominently features musical contributions from many special guest artists such as Luther Dickinson (lead guitarist for both The Black Crowes & North Mississippi Allstars), Cody Dickinson (drummer for North Mississippi Allstars), and "East Memphis Slim" ..boards, as well as a host of other Memphis music luminaries including Nokie Taylor (STAX Records recording legend), Art Edmaiston (MOFRO & The Gamble Brothers Band), Hope Clayburn (Deep Banana Blackout & The Dynamites), Rick Steff (Lucero & Dexy's Midnight Runners), Jackie Johnson (Aaron Neville & Cat Power), and The Masqueraders & James Govan (Beale Street performing stalwarts).
The songs on "From the Bluff " are exceptionally well-written (primarily composed by various combinations of the core songwriting team of bassist/vocalist/lyricist Richard Cushing, drummer/lyricist David Skypeck, guitarist Brian Overstreet, and trumpeter/vocalist/lyricist E.J. Dyce), with the lyrical content ranging from light-hearted, observational "slices of life" to deeper philosophical musings, while the music remains true to the oft-touted FreeWorld standards of superb musicianship, tight arrangements and a wide-ranging stylistic and instrumental prowess.
"From the Bluff " is undoubtedly FreeWorld's best and finest recording to date, and again proves the age-old adage: Great music, played from the heart, never goes out of style!
In addition, "From the Bluff " also proudly features original paintings on both the front & back covers (and on the CD itself) by prominent Memphis-based artists David Lynch & Lamar Sorrento.
It seems that Christmas time is here once again, and it is time again to bring in the New Year. We wish the merriest of Christmas to you and your loved ones, and we wish you happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. Yola
Thanks man had a great night and you fella's were great, the south feels like my second home, i'm sure i'll be back in memphis soon, stay in touch and stay cool :)
Hey dudes, We're really looking forward to seein' you play the River City Jam Festival on September 26. I know this will be the Jaminist event for Memphis ever....oh, yeah! See you soon, Papa G MGM Booking www.rivercityjamfestival.com www.myspace.com/rivercityjamfestival
We're really looking forward to having FreeWorld perform at the First Annual River City Jam Festival on Saturday, September 26. Thanks for being on the show!
Just got back from Rothbury MI, now in MS, ran into a band named Hill Country Revue at Rothbury and it reminded me of you guys. I'm withdrawing and I need my dose of Freeworld soon!
greetings. just read your glowing review from Barcelona on Vincente Zumel's page. Very cool. Hope to see you guys again soon. http://www.lahoradelblues.com/criticas.htm
You guys rocked out the shell tonite! Thanks for the awesome tunes, I have to wear the monkey suit next Sunday but the sunday after it's back to blues city. Peace and love!!! Miss you guys!!!
love you guys!!!!! im still in austin but whenever i get homesick i go to your page!!! (which is now)anyways ill see you guys before the summer is over!!!yey me!!!miss ya!!!
I plan to. It would be an honor and I'm deeply grateful for the offer. It was totally cool chatting with you. See you soon...sooner than you think. Give Herman a big kiss for me.
Thanks for the add. Down on the Bluff has been spinning in my head since first time I heard it! Love it! Hope to see ya..ll next time I visit your city. Big Viking hug