Terraplane Tales
The band in front of our tour bus. From the left: Myself, Hubert Sumlin, Tony Kofi, Sim Cain, Dave Hofstra, Elliott Sharp and Curtis Fowlkes. A bus tour through the UK and Northern Ireland. Unusual for Terraplane tours, we usually train it.
Elliott catching up on the news. At first I didn't dig train tours. The on and off with all the gear always seemed hectic. Now we have it down to a smooth on-load and off. We each find our own space, maybe a meal in the dining car. I have come to enjoy it. Though looking for photos I discovered I have hundreds of shots through the train window. Europe passing by with the rhythm of the rails.
Hubert Sumlin and I performing in London. I am honored to have the opportunity to perform with Hubert. So much blues history. So much tone in those hands.
Elliott, Curtis and drummer Lance Carter. That was our last tour with Lance. At the time we thought his back was out. Not long after we found out it was something more severe. Lance struggled on that tour with the travel, but played with such energy and power and always was in good humor. I miss him tremendously. We both shared a secret love of the movie "That thing you do" We could never really understand it ourselves, but if it was on, we watched it. Secret revealed.
Hubert and I backstage at the Guinness Jazz Festival in Belfast. Photo taken by my good friend and Hubert's manager Toni Mamary. Who also came up with the line. "Was it the Guinness or the Mingus". I can say that night the Guinness and I were of the same mind.
One of the things I enjoy most on the road with Terraplane, aside from the gigs themselves, is the stories and the time we all get to share them.
Dave Hofstra and Alex Harding. Dave by far is one of my favorite players. Be it on Tuba, Electric Bass or upright. He is solid. I look to him when I am in trouble on that stage. Though one time I was good and lost in a tune and looked to Dave and he just shrugged, but we found our way. Alex. What can I say. He speaks and sings his heart and soul through that Horn. A kind and generous road companion. Here I think we are getting ready to disembark from the train. (Let's not talk about Alex's Baritone flight case.)
