Long before he was in Kansas or Deep Purple, virtuoso guitarist Steve Morse held the torch for the all-instrumental band out of Florida, The Dixie Dregs. What started out as an experiment between college classmates morphed into one of the most innovative jazz-fusion groups of the 70s. the Dixie Dregs’ third album, 1978’s What If paved the way for numerous career opportunities, a slot at the Montreux Jazz Festival among them. On a bill that included Larry Coryell and Sea level, the Dixie Dregs — Morse, bassist Andy West, drummer Rod Morgenstein, violinist Allen Sloan, and keyboardist Mark Parrish — took the stage at the festival on July 3, 1978 and proceeded to blow the doors off the competition. This concert is the centerpiece of the Live At Montreux 1978 DVD.
The Dixie Dregs dipped their artistic cup into streams of jazz, bluegrass, country, rock, Celtic, and even classical music. They were a cut-above many of the artists at Montreux, in terms of dynamics and musicality, garnering an unusual level of respect from what may be considered a condescending, snooty crowd. With that in mind, the group had no problem playing an unorthodox set consisting largely of unreleased material. This includes “Leprechaun Promenade,” “Patchwork,” “The Bash,” and the title track from their forthcoming album (and Grammy-nominated) Night Of The Living Dregs. “Attila The Hun,” from 1981’s Unsung Heroes, and “Kathreen” were also unreleased at the time. Nevertheless, the blend is seamless as the group’s chemistry pushes the boundaries off the cliffs and into the wasteland. “Freefall,” the title track from the second Dregs album, properly lifts off with freefalling solos from Morse, Sloan, and Parrish. Like a swarm of locusts, the music becomes an amalgamated force, squirming for space during “Leprachaun Promenade,” and locking in as Morse and Sloan become one on “Wages Of Weirdness.”
It’s hard to believe this same band can change direction on a dime and whip through “Country House Shuffle,” “The Bash,” “Kathreen” and “Dixie” — up-tempo, line-dancing swingers that’ll keep those toes a-tapping well into the night. Once the Montreux concert ends, there’s more to chew on in the Extras section of the DVD. A rare 1979 clip of “Punk Sandwich” from Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, with new keyboardist T Lavitz, features all the group members wearing sunglasses and tuxedo tails. Another clip from a 1982 appearance on American Bandstand really throws fuel onto the embers. Apparently, the Dregs in the early 80s needed to stretch out commercially or else. This meant the inclusion of vocalists, ex-Santana member Alex Ligertwood, and Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons, singing on one track each for the album Industry Standard. Ligertwood joined the Dregs on American Bandstand — perhaps as a requirement of the program or simply as a gesture of goodwill — to play “Crank It Up,” a straightforward rocker Dick Clark and his audience of hip scene-makers could identify with. It turns out to be a confusing moment in the history of the band. Fortunately, after getting cozy with Clark, they play “Bloodsucking Leeches” without Ligertwood, and all is forgiven. Since those days, of course, sporadic Dregs reunions keep the spirit and integrity alive. And singers are rarely included. Hallelujah for that.
~ Shawn Perry
