"He'd book a phone booth for 50 a man!"
Dave was Red's bassman for a good 4-5 years in the 1997-2001 period. He called a friend to write down his thoughts and I read them at the memorial. There were at least a couple of hundred fans, musicians, friends and family at the Saloon on a marvelous San Francisco Sunday. Always two guitarists, often two harps, two lefty drummers in a row... It's too much to describe, and to list the names of the jammers and attendees is too much to take on. It came together like magic, all the way up to doing "Mojo" for the last number! Definitely, "Ya had to be there!"
James Reed did an awesome job of solving every technical problem, shepherding performers to the stage, encouraging us to shout out our love for Red, and contributing the "No Red" blues. It was a high quality of playing, too. Sugar G Robinson brought a whole stack-o-keys and put them all to good use! King Perkoff was incredibly gracious as we ran over into his show. Drummer Francis Clay, not walking these days, was wheeled to a place of honor. I hope Lisa Zimmer has a writeup somewhere, or maybe she was just content to dig everything!
Jill Staver added just the right touch with her song and warm regard for the sometimes rowdy crowd. Brian Berson provided a very moving eulogy. Jill and Brian, thank you both, your love for Red was felt and shared by all. I tried to get everyone up on stage that wanted to play or say something about Red. But there was too little time, some folks graciously laid back, and there were some screwups. If you weren't coming forward to the stage and tugging our sleeves you could have been missed. I apologize for not having a list of RSVPers with me onstage. Please forgive me Raymond Victor for not remembering you had to tip out early. Oh, and I'm sure there are others... Wow, maybe we should do this every year! What d'ya think, ladies? (Susan Tramontana, Jill, and Colleen Cool, too -- all did so much for Red & the Internationals.)
Kenzie, your Dad loved you so very much. He talked about you all the time when we were on the road. Red gave us all so very much, but I'm sorry he won't get to see you continue to grow. Alas.
The only time in his life that Dave Coltrara "phoned it in"...
"Dear Friends of Red,
"Sorry I can't be with you today to celebrate Red's life. I want to thank Red for all that he taught me about being a professional musician; the lessons of being on time, knowing your material, and for giving 100% of yourself with every note! I'm proud of the body of work we recorded, but above all, the most important lesson he taught me was, 'If you can't outplay 'em -- out dress 'em!'
"Play in Peace, -Dave Coltrara-"
At the bottom of the transcribed notes was a reminder of the 1999 gig at Le Grain de'Orge in Bruxelles, (200-300 people shoulder to shoulder, cheek to cheek, a sellout return of "the kid") and the Ecaussine (sp?) Festival, (sharing a soccer clubhouse dressing room with Gatemouth Brown) and playing before 8000 people. Things were beginning to happen on the stage and I totally missed the best line of all, "He'd book a phone booth for 50 a man!"
