HOWARD WALES AND JERRY GARCIA - SOUTH SIDE STRUT

Typically "jam sessions" are fun for the musicians doing their thing, but most wouldn't want to listen as the often directionless playing can be tedious. This 45 side distills what is, in my opinion, the absolute greatest example of the brief flash of inspiration that can result in such a thing.

Veteran session/ touring keyboard player Howard Wales (The Four Tops, James Brown, The Box Tops, etc) made his home in San Francisco in the late 60's, and began playing in the clubs such as The Matrix that hosted a jam night where the heavy hitter of the SF scene held court. Howard and Jerry Garcia clicked, and they cut an LP that was released in 1971 (of which this single is extracted). The duo (joined by an excellent rhythm section), perfectly match a SLAMMING organ driven funk jam with Garcia's spacy guitar being channeled in from another dimension.

from 1971...

HOWARD WALES AND JERRY GARCIA - SOUTH SIDE STRUT