DIXIE DREGS discography (top rated albums) and reviews

One with the top jazz-rock fusion ensembles ever, the Dixie Dregs combined virtuoso approach with eclecticism and also a sense of humor and spirit too often lacking in comparable projects. Guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Andy West played collectively as high-school students in Augusta, GA, in a standard rock band called Dixie Grit. When Morse was expelled from school for refusing to reduce his hair, he enrolled at the University of Miami School of Music, where he met violinist Allen Sloan, who had played together with the Miami Philharmonic, and drummer Rod Morgenstein. The three decided to kind a band, and Morse convinced West to come to Miami and join. the Dixie Dregs completed their lineup with keyboardist Steve Davidowski. Their very first album, The Fantastic Spectacular, was recorded for a class project in 1975 and later released by the band (it's long out of print). Following graduation, the quintet began playing live around the South and got its break immediately after opening for Sea Level on 1976, when a representative from Capricorn Records was impressed enough to sign the band. Mark Parrish, a former member of Dixie Grit, replaced Davidowski for their official debut, 1977's Free Fall. Get a lot more information regarding dixiedregstour.com



Their follow-up, What If, proved to be one of their most artistically profitable albums, and the Dixie Dregs played in the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival with T Lavitz replacing Parrish. Half of Night of the Living Dregs includes excerpts from that concert. The group shortened its name for the Dregs for 1981's Unsung Heroes, and added both vocalists and three-time national fiddling champ Mark O'Connor, whose old-timey playing style added one more dimension to the group's sound, for Industry Normal. The Dregs then disbanded; the very respected Morse formed his personal band and recorded numerous albums, later joining Kansas from 1986 to 1988, whilst Morgenstein hooked up with pop-metallists Winger.



The Dregs reunited briefly in 1988 to get a series of live dates, but a full-fledged reunion did not take location until 1992, with Morse, Lavitz, Morgenstein, and Dave LaRue of your Steve Morse Band in West's spot. Allen Sloan rejoined only briefly, with his position then filled by ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra member Jerry Goodman. Bring 'Em Back Alive was culled from the group's tour, and 1994's Full Circle was also nicely received. California Screamin' followed in early 2000.

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