FreeWorld rocked the house at The International Bistro Thursday night. Their performance concluded their CD release of the new album, Freeworld Live from Memphis and the proceeds went to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
“We love playing in Starkville, it is like our second home, and Dave Hood, the owner of Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern and The International Bistro is like my brother,” bass player Richard Cushing said.
Their elaborate music creates a funk rock sound with a bit of a jazz twist.
On average this band plays 280 gigs a year which is about four to five nights a week. Every Sunday night for the past 12 years they’ve brought soul and groove to Beale Street in Memphis at Blues City CafZ. This is where they recorded their new album in July. The Blues City CafZ is their stomping ground and claim to fame.
In the past 16 years, FreeWorld has released four albums. FreeWorld, You are Here, Diversity, and their newest FreeWorld Live from Memphis. Each album enlightens the soul and creates whimsical vibes for any jam band lover.
“FreeWorld Live From Memphis really captures what we do and who we are and you either dig it or you don’t,” said Cushing.
The band can be found touring all over the Southeast and even Europe, performing night after night and exerting energy in each performance. Not only do they sing and produce their own music, they also cover artists such as Steely Dan, The Meters, Phish, Stevie Wonder, The Band, Bob Marley and the Wailers, John Coltrane, Sting, Miles Davis and many others.
“It all depends on the gig; we can be a cover band all night or an original band or half and half–just whatever our crowd wants,” Cushing said.
To mention a few of the highlights of their musical career they have played with musician John Fishman and Page McConnel of Phish, Lebon Helm of The Band and The Meters. Cushing only mentioned a couple because the list of artist goes on forever.
They’ve been nominated for the Premier Band Award six times by the Memphis chapter of NARAS as well as garnering more than 25 individual nominations as Premier Instrumentalists, Vocalists and Producers and opened to the 2001 Memphis premier Player Awards leading a full-blown Mardi Gras parade in tribute to the evening’s honorees, The Meters.
Since 1987 the group has had a place for 55 members. Now the band has six members, and each one adds life to the group. Today you will see these guys, Steve Dolan, trumpet/vocals; Herman Green, tenor sax and flute; Josh Degges, alto sax; Brian Overstreet, guitar; Richard Cushing, bass/vocals and David Skypeck, drums.
Richard Cushing and Herman Green are the only two original band members. Green is the sax man and flute player–an overtalented one at that. He is 73 years old but calls himself the youngest member of the band.
“He gave our band instant credibility and you have to gain a certain level of musicality for him to play with you. Herman is our mentor and our dear friend,” Cushing said.
Each member brings finesse to FreeWorld. Spontaneous forum of a concert is the group’s true element, and this all comes to reality on their new CD.
“Music is communication. For us it is six people talking all at once–we feed off the crowd and give back to them what they give to us,” said Cushing.
“I have seen FreeWorld play at Dave’s for the past four years and each time I’ve experienced their show it has been even more intriguing than the last,” MSU student Nick Crews said.
Be sure to checkout their new CD and Web site at www.FreeWorldJams.com.