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Gov't Mule: Rockin out the Jazz way - The first page |
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Written by Glenn BurnSilver
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Wednesday, 30 August 2006 |
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Page 1 of 3
Move over James Brown, you’re about to be usurped as the hardest working man in showbiz.
The new titleholder? Why, it’s Warren Haynes, guitarist for Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers Band.
“Gov’t Mule will play for 90 minutes and the Allman Brothers for two and a half hours,” Haynes said from New York last week as he prepared for the double gig while also celebrating the release of Gov’t Mule’s new album, “High & Mighty.” “So I have a long night a head of me. That’s quite a long gig.”
Indeed. But Haynes has never been one to shy away from a guitar session, be it on stage or in the studio. He often does double duty night after night as the two bands frequently tour together, and Gov’t Mule also carries a full schedule. In 2004 Haynes provided guitar work for the reformed Dead. Occasionally, all three acts were on the same bill. Still, he relishes the opportunities afforded him.
“I don’t feel like my energy waned, my schedule is a little less than before. I enjoyed the Dead tour, and the last seven or eight years are the busiest time of my career, but when opportunities come along you find a way to make it happen,” he explained. “I’ve been fortunate to have some great opportunities that kept me really busy, but that’s a good thing.”
Despite the double bill that night, Haynes’ main focus remains Gov’t Mule. The new album finds the band once again pushing the envelop of sonic sensations. “High & Mighty” sports the requisite fat and fuzzy power rockers and heavy ballads, but also slips in a little reggae, a touch of soul and lots of groove. Haynes attributes these new musical directions to producer Gordie Johnson, who encouraged Haynes to try new things.
“I let him take me in directions that I normally wouldn’t be comfortable with, but after working with him for so long, I trust Gordie. It was a real learning experience for me, trying things that I hadn’t done before,” Haynes said. “The new album covers a lot of material that we haven’t covered before.”
Until a couple of years ago, Mule operated as a trio. Adding Danny Louis on keyboards has taken some of the burden off Haynes, but more importantly has allowed the band to broaden the already grand scope of their sound. And at the heart of it all is the band’s ability to improvise. Haynes says it is simply applying jazz techniques to rock and roll.
“We’re a rock band with jazz sensibilities. We take a very jazzy approach to playing; it’s all about interplay. That’s important with all the improvisation we do. Our improvisations can be telepathic,” Haynes said. “We’re individual artists playing a part in something great. With four we have more space to explore.”
Considering Haynes’ busy schedule, that’s all he needs.
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