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Workin’
in the Groove Mine with Bill Garrett
Garrett’s new trio, the Groove Miners, has enjoyed great success at the Funky Blues Shack, thanks to two of the finest musicians around—blues singer-guitarist Hans McMiniman and percussionist Steve Ferry. Garrett met McMiniman when the two were backing promising young singer-songwriter Reed Waddle. “We wound up rooming together in Nashville for a showcase with Reed. We were in Nashville the day Johnny Cash died. Even though Hans is German, he’s deeply rooted in American music. We started talking about music—this was the first time we hung out apart from rehearsals,” Garrett said. “We walked down to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Camera crews from all around the world were there. In the rotunda, Cash’s plaque was draped in black and had a dozen roses on it. Every band in town was playing Johnny Cash songs. Hans and I found out how much common ground we had musically.” Garrett is a native of the area. He has been performing since he was old enough to get into bars. “I’ve lived in New Orleans and out west, but this is home.” His mother played classical piano. Garrett’s older brother was heavy into “Miles Davis and the jazz thing” while his older sister enjoyed country icons Hank Williams and Tammy Wynette. “They both loved rock and roll, folk and Motown. We harmonized, and there was always a guitar and piano around the house. I taught myself—no instruction to speak of. A lot of academics can read music, but when it comes to improvising, they can’t play their way out of a paper bag. Then there are cats who can play very soulfully but can’t read music. It’s like the old joke—‘Can you read music?’ ‘Not enough to hurt my playing.’” Garrett acknowledged his wide and varying tastes. “When I was a kid, I listened to everything from Alice Cooper to the Four Freshmen—my brother-in-law was with them. Big band stuff, I soaked it all up. One of my first favorite records was Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks’ Where’s the Money.” I listen to a lot of music, too, but must confess ignorance about a few of the songs the Groove Miners played during a recent Friday night gig. I recognized an old Sonny Boy Williamson blues, but couldn’t recall the name of the tune—or which Sonny Boy originated it. I did enjoy the extended funk workout on Heartbreak Hotel—the Groove Miners brought in a guest saxophonist from Germany that night, along with McMiniman’s good friend, keyboard player Joe Fuller. The individual band members demonstrated their remarkable chops on some furious instrumental jams. “It’s a bunch of blues and obscure R&B and originals. Memphis stuff and old, old Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. New Orleans stuff,” Garrett said. The trio also plays some songs by Garrett’s old group the Underdogs. The Groove Miners will command the stage at Funky Blues Shack Tuesday nights all summer long. Garrett and Steve Ferry are scheduled to appear at Hog’s Breath Friday nights from 6-10 throughout the summer season. McMiniman’s traditional blues outfit Black Cat Bone is still going strong, too. “Hans’ credentials are beyond question,” Garrett said, noting McMiniman’s experience with ex-Rolling Stones axeman Mick Taylor. “Steve is just a super talented cat—he reads music, but he plays with soul. He’s a multi-instrumentalist. He can play a full drum set and congas at the same time. It’s effortless, a big sound. He plays the shit out of the vibes. He’s a Pensacola boy, and for years was one of the most well versed drummers over there. He’s not just a basher—he’s very well-rounded.” SIDEBAR: Bill Garrett’s Five Desert Island CDs: The Beatles,
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band |
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It’s
not unusual to see Bill Garrett sitting in with any number of
musicians. “I play all over the place with everybody. I’m
the bass player in town they call if their bass player gets arrested,”
he joked. “It’s a challenge to jump in cold and play
another band’s repertoire with a minimum of rehearsal. Sink
or swim, you know?”Copyright © The Beachcomber, Inc. 2003 - 2008. All rights reserved.