DIXIE DREGS discography (best albums) and reviews
Posted by Thomas Shaw on January 16th, 2020
One in the best jazz-rock fusion ensembles ever, the Dixie Dregs combined virtuoso method with eclecticism plus a sense of humor and spirit too regularly lacking in related projects. Guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Andy West played with each other as high-school students in Augusta, GA, within a standard rock band referred to as Dixie Grit. When Morse was expelled from school for refusing to cut his hair, he enrolled in the University of Miami School of Music, exactly where he met violinist Allen Sloan, who had played with all the Miami Philharmonic, and drummer Rod Morgenstein. The 3 decided to form a band, and Morse convinced West to come to Miami and join. the Dixie Dregs completed their lineup with keyboardist Steve Davidowski. Their initial album, The Terrific Spectacular, was recorded for any class project in 1975 and later released by the band (it is long out of print). Following graduation, the quintet began playing live about the South and got its break immediately after opening for Sea Level on 1976, when a representative from Capricorn Records was impressed adequate 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 details about dixiedregstour.com
Their follow-up, What If, proved to be one of their most artistically effective albums, along with the Dixie Dregs played at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival with T Lavitz replacing Parrish. Half of Evening in the Living Dregs includes excerpts from that concert. The group shortened its name for the Dregs for 1981's Unsung Heroes, and added each vocalists and three-time national fiddling champ Mark O'Connor, whose old-timey playing style added one more dimension for the group's sound, for Market Normal. The Dregs then disbanded; the very respected Morse formed his personal band and recorded many albums, later joining Kansas from 1986 to 1988, although Morgenstein hooked up with pop-metallists Winger.
The Dregs reunited briefly in 1988 for any series of live dates, but a full-fledged reunion did not take spot until 1992, with Morse, Lavitz, Morgenstein, and Dave LaRue on the Steve Morse Band in West's location. Allen Sloan rejoined only briefly, with his position then filled by ex-Mahavishnu Orchestra member Jerry Goodman. Bring 'Em Back Alive was culled in the group's tour, and 1994's Full Circle was also nicely received. California Screamin' followed in early 2000.
