Well, yes, Kreutzmann was aboard for a few songs, and overall Cactus gave us a really groovy set, focused on much of The Green Sparrow, which drops this week. Murawski was lauded as the force of nature he is—Gordon joked that he’d be playing in 100 bands this weekend—and there was also a strong showing from keyboardist Tom Cleary, who wears even the more languid Gordon selections well enough to claim his section of the limelight.
And how much fun is Taj Mahal? The veteran bluesman always surprises me with how much energy he still brings to the stage—stomping and bopping along up there while serving up piquant guitar fills and wiry solos. Toward the end of the set, following a rippling Checkin’ Up On My Baby, he switched to the island and African fusion he’s been working on in more recent years, including such upbeat, good natured jams as Hanapepe Dream. His trio is Swiss-Watch tight—both the bassist and drummer hold so close to such a deep pocket that adding even one more instrument might spoil the streamlined balance. We’ll be back later with more from the Vibes at Bridgeport.
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