On Tuesday, Relix premiered an archival video from the 2006 Jammy Awards featuring an all-star super jam comprised of Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Mike Gordon (Phish), Les Claypool (Primus), Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, and Gabby La La. The ensemble of musicians—some long-established and others still on-the-rise—take on Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade cut “D’s Diner” in the eleven-and-a-half minute clip.
Before the band launched into the song, Claypool asked Madison Square Garden a burning question, “Has anybody ever been to Sebastopol, California? If you do ever venture to or through Sebastopol, California, there’s a place called D’s Diner that is a fantabulous experience.” Then, as if trying to give his statement credence, Claypool added, “Warren Haynes knows D’s Diner.”
The ensemble then dove into Claypool’s bizarre, triple-bass- and sitar-driven ode to his favorite breakfast joint. The musicians who truly shined during this performance were the ones who were the least established at the time: Marco Benevento and Joe Russo, who were best known for their instrumental Benevento/Russo Duo project, and Gabby La La, who had just released her debut solo album featuring Les Claypool, Be Careful What You Wish For…, the previous year.
Watch the clip of the ensemble performing “D’s Diner” from the 2006 Jammy Awards.
Les Claypool, Mike Gordon, Phil Lesh, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Gabby La La – “D’s Diner” – Live At The Jammy Awards – 4/20/06
[Video: Relix]
The sixth-annual Jammy Awards were co-hosted by Grateful Dead drummers Mickey Hart and Billy Kreutzmann. The evening began with a performance of “Freedom” by Richie Havens, who was also the first to play at Woodstock in 1969. The event also saw the debut performance of Dweezil Zappa‘s band Zappa Plays Zappa, where he was joined by Hart, Chick Corea, and Jake Cinninger of Umphrey’s McGee. Among those honored at the event were Frank Zappa, who was posthumously given the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as former Wetlands Preserve owner Larry Bloch, who was presented with the Jammy Industry Award.