Review - Jeff Sipe Trio @ The Double Door Inn, Charlotte, NC, 19 August 2009

It's not often, that a person is able to stand in a room and experience the best of the best doing what they do best. I never got to see Michael Jordan play basketball, I was not able to see Jimmy Hendrix with a stratocaster in his hand, and I never came face to face with mother Teresa in a third world country's village...I did however see The Jeff Sipe Trio on Wednesday night. Of all the music that's touched these ears...those drums, that music, may stand alone.

This was the third time I've seen Sipe, once with Jimmy Herring and Bobby Lee Rogers at Smilefest 12, which was a bluezy, Southern Rock sort of show. The second was with the WMD'S, and I couldn't exactly put a label on that one if I'd tried. Regardless, they were not just great shows, but a couple of my all-time favorites. Last night, however, was a purely instramental, high energy, tender, bluezy, Jazzy masterpiece, the likes of which I've never seen. Jeff Sipe, with the shift from that feel-good grin, to an eyes on intese focus at the drop of hat, was simply in his element. JP actually said, "This is my education", during one particularly amazing portion of this amazing show.

To begin, the Bass Player, Vince LLagan was not able to make the show, and as I arrived at the Double Door a few minutes before 8p.m. (Doors) with my wife and brother in-law, word that Ike Stubblefield was going to fill in on the keys had been passed around. I'd never seen Stubblefield, had only seen a list of his accomplishments...I'm glad he came. The band was a little late in getting there and setup, and I'd say it took them about 30-45 minutes to get in, get setup and on the stage.

Right off the bat, the first song was such a jazzy groove, mostly lead by Stubblefield, and so smoothly played by all three. I knew immediately I was in for something good...admittedly so, I was wrong, I was in for something great. The second song slowed it down some, though groovy none the less. Third song a nice, slow bluezy tune, and on, and on it went jazzy, bluezy, even dropped a guitar ballad on us, and the entire time Sipe was givin' so much more on the drums than I'd ever seen for this genre of music. They even did a terrific rendition of "Don't Worry, Be Happy"...which just lifted the soul from the pit of the stomach.

About the only time it wasn't cooler than the other side of the pillow jazz or heart wrenchin', but I'm still okay blues, was during the monster drum solos. I counted four, throughout the night, though I'm now giving it another listen now to be sure. High octane, monster drums, after the first one I said straight outloud (To myself and admiringly), "That was borderline showing of!". It just lifted me right of the ground, and FOUR OF THEM, GOODNESS ME!! It was simply unreal to hear, and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. So effortlessly, with very little arm movement...just swishin' and flickin', like a Dumbledore with his wand (Except this guy has two!!). My mouth dropped numerous times during the spectacle before me. It was simply amazing, there are few things in life that could possibly keep me away from his show (and it was his show) from this point forward, and each would involve my family.

It was wonderful to be back at the Double Door Inn, as the spring so quickly turned to summer, and the summer now quickly coming to a close...(this) one might have overlooked what a great place that is with all the outdoor events going on and the great weather. Like a musician hanging it up for a time, and revisiting their passion a long while down the road, I was happy to be back, and I look eagerly forward to my next visit.

WOW!!...What a show!