Originally from Memphis, Tenn., the six-piece band FreeWorld will perform tonight at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern beginning at 9:45 with a cover charge of $5.
Described as “Memphis’ tightest jamband” on its MySpace page, bass player Richard Cushing also depicted FreeWorld’s sound as a collaboration of rock, jazz, funk, blues, soul, pop, psychedelic and reggae. Some of their influences include The Grateful Dead, The Band, Miles Davis, Booker T. and the MG’s and Steely Dan.
FreeWorld’s “main man” and saxophonist Herman Green founded the group in 1987 along with Cushing. Green also helped organize B.B. King’s first band. For the 22 years that Green lived in New York City and San Francisco, he played with some of the most talented and well-known jazz musicians in the world including John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Lionel Hampton.
“I had the opportunity to travel in concert with Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead,” Green said. “And just last year I played with Steve Perkins, the drummer from Jane’s Addiction, at the Monterey Jazz Festival.”
As a kid, Green listened to a lot of gospel and jazz.
“I don’t oppose rap, but I like to hear actual music,” Green said.
FreeWorld’s other members consist of David Skypeck on the drums, Brian Overstreet playing guitar, E.J.Dyce playing trumpet and Scott Katzev on the saxophone.
FreeWorld tours the Southeast on a regular basis, but they’ve also been to Europe a couple of times, Cushing said.
As far as regular house gigs go, they play every Sunday night at the Blues City Cafe on Beale St. in Memphis. They’ve only missed two Sundays at the cafe since 1991.
“As a child, my parents listened to a lot of big band music like Benny Goodman and Lawrence Welk, and also classic country like Eddie Arnold and Charlie Pride,” Cushing said. “As a teenager, I listened to a wide variety of music starting with Elton John, then moving through Kiss, Van Halen, Kansas, Boston, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Yes.”
FreeWorld has performed or recorded with prominent bands such as The Derek Trucks Band, Jon Fishman and Page McConnell from Phish, The North Mississippi Allstars, Galactic, Widespread Panic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and The Radiators.
The group will more than likely play a variety of cover songs at Dave’s. However, they have released four albums and are currently in the process of recording a fifth that will contain all fresh material. The group’s first album was self-titled, but the others are named You Are Here, Diversity and the latest, Live in Memphis.
FreeWorld is looking forward to celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007.
“We’re a very versatile, well put together band,” Green said. “We’ll play all the way from the Grateful Dead to country and even throw in a little classical.”
For the past 10 years, Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern has been a favorite place for FreeWorld to visit.
“The venue rocks, our Starkville fans are the best and especially, Dave is the man,” Cushing said. “Not only is he a fair and affable club owner, a rare breed indeed, but I would also consider him a good friend at this point due to our years of camaraderie, good times, good faith, shared experiences and all around great vibes.”