LeRoi Moore (1961-2008)

I finished watching the Grammys this morning and was very saddened that in the tribute to musicians who had died last year, LeRoi Moore was overlooked.  After all, as a member of the Dave Matthews Band, he had won a Grammy in 1997!  So following are a few of my thoughts about him.

LeRoi Moore was the saxophone and flute player in my favorite band.  He may not have been the greatest saxophone player on the planet, but he was versatile and innovative - I especially loved what he added to the song Lover Lay Down - and he was essential to the amazing synergy of the Dave Matthews Band.  His jamming at the end of Sugar Will resonated deep down inside of me.  He was the most reserved and private member of the band, and he dealt with stage fright by wearing sunglasses on stage.

After being a fan for many years, Tim signed me up for the fan club and we started going to DMB concerts in the summer of 2003.  I've been to eleven of them so far, six of those with Tim and the others with  friends, my kids and my sister-in-law.  (We've also been to a Dave Matthews & Friends show and a Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds concert, but those are other stories...)  What we remember most about the July 6, 2004 concert in Mansfield, Massachusetts is how buoyantly happy they all seemed.  LeRoi wasn't even wearing his sunglasses, Dave was dancing more than usual and Boyd was jamming all over the stage.  But at all concerts LeRoi's solos and long jams throughout the evening were captivating...

The most memorable concert adventure for us was on October 1, 2004.  My Morning Jacket, Jurassic 5, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals and DMB were doing a benefit tour for John Kerry and the closest venue was a six hour drive away at Pennsylvania State University.  When I proposed attending this concert, I was surprised and ecstatic when Tim said yes without a moment's hesitation.  What a night!  The first two groups played for about 30-45 minutes each, Ben played for an hour, and incredibly DMB played for their usual 2½ hours!  They did not disappoint, Pig was amazing and the jam following Sugar Will mesmerized me yet again.  The haunting instrumental Extended Intro was something new - LeRoi played the flute and the sound brought to mind Native American and new age music.  And as it led into Don't Drink the Water, the song about the oppression of Native Americans, it made sense.

The band will never be the same without him.  It will go on and it will be different and a new synergy will no doubt be achieved.  Different is not better or worse, but it won't be the same.  I hope to attend at least one concert this summer and I will miss LeRoi terribly.  They will carry on without him, as he would have wanted them to.  I know I will treasure my memories.  The last time I saw him perform live with DMB was June 24, 2006 in Bristow, Virginia, with my sister-in-law, Fran.  There was a huge thunderstorm and we got soaked even though we were under the covered seating.  It was great!  But I think our favorite venue was the two concerts Tim and I saw in Saratoga Springs, New York.  It's beautiful there, surrounded by trees and under the stars, in a state park.

It's a shame that LeRoi Moore was not honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.  Perhaps it's not surprising, given the current state of the music business.
http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/watch-the-trailer