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Just found out on Dmband.com that LeRoi Moore past away 8/19/08.
So sad! You know what? I’m not going to be sad, but I’m going to be humble, thankful, and celebrate his life and what he did.
I enjoyed his work and talent. Every time I went to a Dave Matthews concert I was always interested to hearing the entire band. But LeRoi Moore did some amazing stuff with his talent that never let me down. My favorite memory is when I saw him play at Red Rocks in Denver on 9.10.05.
There is a CD of the top compiled songs from the 4 days they played at Red Rocks. However, there is a complete set of all the songs from each night. I bought the complete set to keep in remembrance of the entire show. I have listened to every second of the CD set & DVD. Out of the 8 CD’s there is only one CD that I listened constantly. All the other CD cases are nice and neat but this one case is totally worn out.
The main reason why I used this CD the most is because of LeRoi Moore and his musicianship.
He did a series of call and response riffs with another musician named Rashawn Ross, on two tracks. The tracks were Smooth Rider & Jimi Thing.
Please download these songs to experience it too:
At 2:25mins into the song Smooth Rider, LeRoi started his solo on his sax, which worked great with the low, slow beat of the song. Around 5:25min Rashawn Ross took out his trumpet and lays down a funky smooth solo, while LeRoi just sat back listened and watched to the enjoyment of Rashawns’ sound. LeRoi didn’t get a big head about another wind instrumentalist taking the spotlight. He encouraged him to keep going and just feel in the groove with him.
The song ended with all of them smiling in enjoyment. They enjoyed that moment and it was only the beginning until the next song Jimi Thing. It all started about 6:30 mins into the song, LeRoi went off with a large long expression note to begin his solo. Which lend into a funky grove that matched the rest of the band.
(Small little fact about LeRoi: The reason why he wore sunglasses during the concerts was not only to dim the bright lights, but to help him with his stage freight. But at this concert and during this song he didn’t wear them. It was nice to see his reactions and facial expressions.)
The craziness happened during this song when Rashawn and LeRoi did multiple call and response riffs back and forth. You were able to see Rashawn’s facial expressions of amazement when LeRoi was playing. Just seeing his facial expressions and being there was a great experience. At the end of the song you can read Carter Beauford lips, “That is Bad!” (but meaning good).
That is a good word to describe LeRoi skills. BAD!! His improvisational knowledge of the sound and environment was immaculate.
Well the awesome playing continued while Dave Matthews did a little scat solo. At the end of each call that Dave did, Rashawn & LeRoi responded with a nice little uplifting riff. Again the song ended with the audience getting involved. They helped out by singing with Dave in “Stop, hey, What’s that sound? Everyone look what’s going down”.
I saw what was going down and is hard to describe into words. LeRoi was just amazing and he brought emotion into each and every song. Every musician out there hopes to connect with people through music. LeRoi did that while touching peoples hearts and connecting everyone with love.
Watch the video of the parts that I’m talking about.
“Jimi Thing” (solo & compilation) My favorite memory of LeRoi Moore from nickschmidt on Vimeo.
Full Version of the Song:
Full Song “Jimi Thing” My favorite memory of LeRoi Moore from nickschmidt on Vimeo.
Fan comments from twitter & IM:
Kate Mechling:I can’t say that I have ever been so captivated by a musician that is so diverse, spontaneous, and so naturally ‘improvonistic’. Unbelievably improvonistic, heartbreakingly indissoluble Never losing the beat & always winning the rhythm The pupils remaining behind the black plastic forceshield My ribs will forever cage the luminous spirit inspired by The magical brass twisted soulophone, dreaming under a table named Nancy, big eyed blackbirdfish, lovers laying down in the dreams of our fathers, proudest dancing ants, paying for what you sleep to dream, tripping satellite monkeys, the fool to think to drive in and drive out the space between when the world ends.
@Melissa aww man…no. “Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore dies” talented guy…
@LordByron19 RIP LeRoi Moore, your family and the rest of the Dave Matthews Band are in my prayers
@DaveJaworski Praying for family and friends and fans of LeRoi Moore of DMB on news of his passing.
@Joshua J. Campoverde leroi moore dead, i’ll miss you DMB, you’ve been very good to me. :-(
@Dustyn Winder Leroi Moore died. I’m seriously shaken up over this.
@Jeremy Bingaman I am crushed. Just crushed. LeRoi Moore from the Dave Matthews Band died today.
@Torrie LM COULD PEOPLE PLEASE STOP DYING. The sax player from Dave Mathews Band LeRoi Moore died. SERIOUSLY.
@Adam Conner leroi moore from from Dave Matthews Band died? My teenage years remind me “and my heaven is a nice house in the sky…so much to say”
@ jcangany apologies for being a debbie downer but leroi moore, the saxophonist for the dave matthews band, died from injuries he suffered in june.
@zildjianpilot i liked to think of LM as silent but deadly. he was the color and nuance on top of the band’s power. DMB will never be the same.
Andy Bourassa: @ bourassaWhen I first heard his solo in Lie In Our Graves from the album Live At Red Rocks 8.15.95 I became a Dave Matthews Band fan for life.
Ryan Gibson : man, the only thing is the band can never be the same.we were lucky to see them before this happened, it will never be the same. I’m glad I got out to see them this year.
John Reynolds : LeRoi Moore was such a talented musician and amazing performer. He was one of the most influential people in my development as a musician. I am so sad to hear of his passing.R.I.P.- LeRoi Moore, September 7, 1961 - August 19, 2008 You will be deeply missed.
From the Dave Matthews Band website:
“We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.”
