jazz guitarist and composer
Cream was one of my favorite bands when I was growing up. They blasted loud with hard hitting rock sensibilities all the while going cosmic with jazz explorations — extended jams that explored the outer realms of modal harmony. It was the ultimate power trio with Eric Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass, and Ginger Baker pounding on the drums. We played their songs in our garage band back in the ’70s and now, some 50 years later, we’re taking them for a new spin.
Sunshine of Your Love — probably the second most iconic rock riff right behind the descending chord movement of Stairway to Heaven. I learned to play it when I was young and, with a surfboard under the other arm, I pretty much owned the world at large. Hah!
It’s hard to take over the planet but if you’re fortified with the songs of Cream, world domination by sound is a cinch. Their music is hard hitting, beautiful, and to my ears, just waiting to be reimagined through our jazz and Brazilian influence.
We levitate the classic Had To Cry Today, flat tire wobble on Born Under a Bad Sign, astral travel on Badge, and do some silent moon gazing on Can’t Find My Way Home. And of course we fit in a little Sunshine of Your Love to fully illuminate the set.
The band includes some of the best with:
Peter Sprague on guitar
Leonard Patton on vocals
Tripp Sprague on sax and flute
Mack Leighton on bass
Danny Green on piano
Duncan Moore on drums