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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ken Gemmer |
Posted - 02/10/2005 : 5:46:40 PM
Posted - 02/10/2005 : 11:36:45 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------A little birdie told me this is where I ought to be.
I talked to Bob Bobbings about the possibility of releasing his recordings of Woodchuck on a CD. I am happy to say that Bob that is open to the idea if there is enough people interested. Woodchuck was a trio consisting of Billy Burke on the Hammond B3 organ, Jaco Pastorius on bass guitar and Bob Herzog (later known as Bob Zohn) on drums and lead vocals. I never actually heard the band play live. If you want to read the testimonials of some people who did, go to the Limestone Lounge website. On a thread on the site devoted to Soul Music, Woodchuck is one of the topics. Some guys who remember hearing the band talk about the group. I did play guitar with Burke and Herzog in an earlier band. I jammed with Jaco a lot. After Woodchuck I played in Jaco's band the Uptown Funk Allstars. UFA was never recorded. Bob played drums and sang in that group too.
Billy Burke was known among the local musicians as the Jimmy Smith of South Florida. His playing was POWERFUL! Bob Herzog was an amazingly soulful singer. Jaco, I hope you already know. With Woodchuck, he was already pushing the limits of what had ever been done on the bass guitar. I have only heard the snippets of the group that Bob included on Jaco's early years CD, but those snippets whetted my appetite for more. If you get a chance to hear Woodchuck you will not believe that this sound is coming from three teenaged white kids. I'm in touch with some guys who heard the group, and, if anybody is interested, I'll see if I can persuade them to log on here and share their stories. Ciao. Ken Gemmer
|
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| gingerman13 |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 6:20:52 PM
Which band was Jaco with when he did the baby powder stage slide? |
| pacojastorius |
Posted - 09/02/2009 : 9:22:18 PM
deleted |
| Les Walker |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 11:02:55 PM
Jim
HEY MAN I didn't forget ya!
On page 3 of this Woodchuck thread I posted:
"In addition to Gary Carter, Danny Skidmore, Melton Mustafa, a couple of the lesser known people that played in the "Uptown Funk Allstars" were Jimmy Wheeler on guitar and Fuzzy (David Conrad) on drums. I just stood around and occasionally gave moral support, which means I drove the car".
Damn it's been 38 years!
George Gemmer
|
| jbw |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 4:47:21 PM
Looking for Ken Gemmer. Knew you and went to Broward Com. College during 1971-72. Played with Jaco and Bobby Herzog during that time on Ft.Luaderdale beach. Lived in Boca. Please e-mail me at
jwhel@netzero.net. Jim Wheeler. |
| jbw |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 4:42:53 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by Ken Gemmer[/i]
[br]Posted - 02/10/2005 : 11:36:45 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------A little birdie told me this is where I ought to be.
I talked to Bob Bobbings about the possibility of releasing his recordings of Woodchuck on a CD. I am happy to say that Bob that is open to the idea if there is enough people interested. Woodchuck was a trio consisting of Billy Burke on the Hammond B3 organ, Jaco Pastorius on bass guitar and Bob Herzog (later known as Bob Zohn) on drums and lead vocals. I never actually heard the band play live. If you want to read the testimonials of some people who did, go to the Limestone Lounge website. On a thread on the site devoted to Soul Music, Woodchuck is one of the topics. Some guys who remember hearing the band talk about the group. I did play guitar with Burke and Herzog in an earlier band. I jammed with Jaco a lot. After Woodchuck I played in Jaco's band the Uptown Funk Allstars. UFA was never recorded. Bob played drums and sang in that group too.
Billy Burke was known among the local musicians as the Jimmy Smith of South Florida. His playing was POWERFUL! Bob Herzog was an amazingly soulful singer. Jaco, I hope you already know. With Woodchuck, he was already pushing the limits of what had ever been done on the bass guitar. I have only heard the snippets of the group that Bob included on Jaco's early years CD, but those snippets whetted my appetite for more. If you get a chance to hear Woodchuck you will not believe that this sound is coming from three teenaged white kids. I'm in touch with some guys who heard the group, and, if anybody is interested, I'll see if I can persuade them to log on here and share their stories. Ciao. Ken Gemmer
|
| jbw |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 4:42:00 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by Ken Gemmer[/i]
[br]Posted - 02/10/2005 : 11:36:45 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------A little birdie told me this is where I ought to be.
I talked to Bob Bobbings about the possibility of releasing his recordings of Woodchuck on a CD. I am happy to say that Bob that is open to the idea if there is enough people interested. Woodchuck was a trio consisting of Billy Burke on the Hammond B3 organ, Jaco Pastorius on bass guitar and Bob Herzog (later known as Bob Zohn) on drums and lead vocals. I never actually heard the band play live. If you want to read the testimonials of some people who did, go to the Limestone Lounge website. On a thread on the site devoted to Soul Music, Woodchuck is one of the topics. Some guys who remember hearing the band talk about the group. I did play guitar with Burke and Herzog in an earlier band. I jammed with Jaco a lot. After Woodchuck I played in Jaco's band the Uptown Funk Allstars. UFA was never recorded. Bob played drums and sang in that group too.
Billy Burke was known among the local musicians as the Jimmy Smith of South Florida. His playing was POWERFUL! Bob Herzog was an amazingly soulful singer. Jaco, I hope you already know. With Woodchuck, he was already pushing the limits of what had ever been done on the bass guitar. I have only heard the snippets of the group that Bob included on Jaco's early years CD, but those snippets whetted my appetite for more. If you get a chance to hear Woodchuck you will not believe that this sound is coming from three teenaged white kids. I'm in touch with some guys who heard the group, and, if anybody is interested, I'll see if I can persuade them to log on here and share their stories. Ciao. Ken Gemmer
|
| mixeduplydian |
Posted - 03/22/2007 : 12:16:17 PM
Got nothing to add except - wow! What a great story. Hopefully Dr. Ruff will return soon. |
| Bob Bobbing |
Posted - 03/17/2007 : 07:14:31 AM
Dr. Ruff,
Great stories! Thank you so much for showing up. This is exactly what I was praying for when I started Jaco's early years forum. You know, musicians like yourself who came across Jaco in the very beginning, or close to it, and who could relay what it was like. And you did a great job in my estimation. I think there might be a couple harmless errors with the facts, but the spirit comes through totally intact.
I am curius as to which bowling alley you saw Jaco at. The Clover Leaf in North Miami, close to the Lions Share, or was it Lauderdale Lanes, along highway 441? I am asking you because I was probably there at the gig that night. I went to nearly all of Woodchucks gigs, and there really weren't all that many when I look back now. Anyway, I recorded Woodchuck at the bowling alley on a few occassions and have that fast version of Proud Mary you were talking about on stereo reel to reel. It's funny because Bob Herzog came up with the idea of doing Proud Mary with the hopes of getting hired at more clubs. Jaco and Billy didn't care much for that commercial of material but went along with it anyway because work was scarce. Part of their agreement to do Proud Mary was that they would do their own version. You know, so it would be more hip.
Do you remember any other tunes Woodchuck played that night? Think back. It would be good to read another one of your posts.
Again, very refreshing and meaningful.
Thanks!
|
| Dr_Ruff |
Posted - 03/17/2007 : 01:55:24 AM
I grew up in Carol City, FL. playing bass with the Midnight Haze, Gravestone, and the Solosystem (to name a few). When I played in Gravestone, we were playing in a bowling alley lounge and covered Grand Funk, Black Sabbath, Sly, Santana... and that sort of early 70's stuff. One night we were taking our 20 minute break and a dude approached me and ask if him and a couple of friends could set-up by the Juke box, and jam during our breaks. I asked the manager, a friend and probably why we had the gig, and he said ok, so I told him to go for it. While we played our next 40 minute set, I watched them drag in a B3, drums, and a bass Amp. I was playing a Rickenbacker through a SVT, so when this guy pulled out a ratty looking P-Bass, I grinned and thought, this ought to be good.
Without saying a word, they kicked into an instrumental version of Proud Mary by CCR, only they played it 3 or 4 times faster than the Ike and Tina Turner version. They had no P.A. and the Bass player was playing the Bass riff and melody at the same time. By this time, my band members were outside with ladies and the gold that made Miami and Broward the best place to be in the world. I stood there watching this animal Bass Player playing chops, I had NEVER heard anyone ever do. By the time Woodchuck finished their 20 minutes, I told the guitar player and drummer, I didn't want to play the rest of evening and maybe never again.
The band was Woodchuck, I had never heard of any of them before, but I knew the Bass Player had eaten my lunch like no one had before. I continued playing that night(and still do), but the bar of excellence had risen several notches. My band mate's egos didn't allow them to see or hear what was happening, but I realized the equipment and Axe didn't matter, it was the player.
Ironically, a year or so later, we auditioned to be an opening act at the Lion's Share, 183 St. and 441 (state road 7). The featured band was the Ira Sullivan Band, little did I know that Jaco from Woodchuck was the Bass Player until we set-up for the first night. By then we were covering Zappa, YES, TULL, and the charting rock tunes. Ira & Jaco were doing Return to Forever type Jazz, so I didn't feel, so bad to watch a Bass player kick my ass every way possible. I had matured a little, knew I wasn't or would never be the best bass player on the planet (Stanley Clarke help to make this clear). We played while people came in and got settled and that was it. While the rest of my band immediately left after the opening set, I stayed and watched and soaked up every note Jaco and Ira (an incredible keysman)played. My all time favorite that still gives me goosebumps-- is Ronna Lee. The way Jaco played the bass, rythmn, and melody continues to blow me away. And even after watching him do it night after night, I can't, even now, begin to understand how he did it.
Growing up in Miami, allowed me to see Hendrix with the Isleys, the Jimi Hendrix Experience open for the Monkeys, spend a few nights opening for Tim Bogart and Carmine Appice (after Beck)with Tim McCartney and Mike Pinnera (sic). Bogart (a GREAT Player and person) took the time to show me his licks on Lady and I'm so Proud), and many other greats like Drummer Duffy Jackson. I'm still a studio session) Bass and Guitar player but, I still get goose bumps everytime I listen to a Jaco track. God bless his soul, gone too soon, and may his music last forever!
Kent R. Colbert, Ph. D. (Dr_Ruff)
Atlanta's Music Machine, Inc. |
| wdent |
Posted - 03/06/2007 : 08:14:10 AM
Jim: are you playing these days?
Jaco: You know you've got that tape recorder on Duke Ellington's book!
Interviewer: Which book is that?
Jaco: The only one! |
| jim c |
Posted - 03/05/2007 : 2:13:15 PM
First of all, let me say hello to all you guys who knew Jocko back in circa '68-'71. My recollection of those years is sometimes foggy. And hello to you Bob Miller. I dont know if you remember me, but I was the trumpet player who sat next to you in the pit band at Pirates world the summer of '69 I believe. I think I was the one who got Bobby Economou the job there. I remember the vinyl you had of Coltrane and Coleman setting on your stand when we jammed inbetween shows. We had a regular bass player, but i remember Jocko sitting in. Remember him banging chords on the piano at breaks. That was when I heard you mention this new band Jocko was starting called Uptown Funk Allstars. Remember the next summer when I came home from FSU when we had the gig with Billy Wells. We played at the Four O'clock club and the Downbeat. I remember Jocko comin in and sitting in blowin bari sax on some of our sets. If anyone remembers me, I say hi and it's benn a while!
Jim Cangiamila
jim cangiamila |
| binello |
Posted - 11/19/2006 : 5:18:10 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by adam zaslavsky[/i]
[br]I saw Woodchuck quite a bit at the she, flying machine and button and I never saw Jaco sing.
i think burke started playing with us at the newport shortly after the button gig.was billy burke with woodchuck when u saw them??????? john binello |
| binello |
Posted - 11/19/2006 : 12:48:02 PM
played with billy 4 yrs. in soul bros. band.leader teddy washington.lost touch with billy 18 yrs. ago.love to find out where he is and how to contact.john binello |
| Ken Gemmer |
Posted - 10/16/2006 : 5:26:20 PM
quote:
[i]Originally posted by adam zaslavsky[/i]
[br]I saw Woodchuck quite a bit at the she, flying machine and button and I never saw Jaco sing.
Adam,
Bob Herzog was the singer for Woodchuck right? Bob previously sang with The Good Reasons and Bartox Mountain. I rarely, if ever, saw him playing the drums. I thought of him as a singer. Then all of a sudden he pops up playing the drums; gigging with these monster musicians, Billy and Jaco. Amazing. |
| adam zaslavsky |
Posted - 10/07/2006 : 8:03:10 PM
I saw Woodchuck quite a bit at the she, flying machine and button and I never saw Jaco sing. |
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