My Favorite Year

(I'm not even drunk: the neurotic Jew on the left is me, the neurotic Jew on the right plays in the Disco Biscuits)

As 2005 drew to a close, I had the rather cool opportunity to compile a year end retrospective featuring a number of my favorite artists (and co-workers), which was then sprinkled on Jambands.com throughout January. At times it felt like organizing a really big dinner party, figuring out who to place where and next to whom (‘cause ya know Keller and the Biscuits don’t get along so well). The final installment is now posted at (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_02_10.00.phtml) so be sure to venture over to and let me know which party you’d most like to attend.

Encore (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_02_10.00.phtml):

Billy Martin, Chad Urmston (State Radio, Dispatch), Cyro Baptista, Jason Smart (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey), Reid Genauer (Assembly of Dust), Andrew Southern (RANA), Ivan Neville, Mike Clark (Headhunters), Annabel Lukins (Jam Cruise, Langerado, Bonnaroo), Josh Rouse, Ryan Miller (Guster), Col. Bruce Hampton, Steve Molitz (Particle), John Popper, Tom Ledermann (JamCam Chronicles), Rob Barracco (The Dragonflys, Phil and Friends), Ray Petron (Moonshine Still), Keller Williams, Dave Vann (Photographer), Adam Aijala (Yonder Mountain String Band), Jimmy Herring, Ben Kaufmann (Yonder Mountain String Band) and Rob Salzer (U-Melt)

Set 4 (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_01_29.00.phtml):

Bob Weir, Erik Yates (Hot Buttered Rum), Jamie Shields (The New Deal), Kevin Shapiro (Phish Archivist), Alex Botwin (Pnuma Trio), Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips), Chris Zahn (BB King Blues Club), Tony Markellis (Trey Anastasio Band, No Outlet, Unknown Blues Band), Josh Baron (Relix Magazine), Robert Mercurio (Galactic), Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jess Besack (Sirius Jam_On), Justin Peroff (Broken Social Scene), Paul Glace (Phantasy Tour), J. Bau (Hard Head Management), Calexico (Joey Burns and John Convertino), Jon Topper (moe. Manager)

Set 3 (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_01_19.01.phtml):

Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Steve Adams (ALO), Fuzz (Rolla, Deep Banana Blackout), Jonathan Schwartz (Relix Magazine/Records, Sirius Radio), Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Alecia Cohen (Global Rhythm Magazine), Todd Stoops (RAQ), Russell Batiste (PBS, Vida Blue, Funky Meters), Aaron Kayce “Kayceman” (JamBase), Al Schnier (moe.), Andy Bernstein (Pharmer’s Almanac, HeadCount.org), Bill Laswell, Tom Hamilton (Brothers Past), Evan Winiker (Steel Train), Pete Shapiro (The Jammys, Green Apple Music Festival, Wetlands), Eric Lanese (ekoostik hookah), Hunter Brown (Sound Tribe Sector 9)

Set 2 (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_01_13.00.phtml):

Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee), Jo Jo Hermann (Widespread Panic), Mike Gordon (Phish), Steve Bernstein (Relix, Rex Foundation), Gabby La La, Jeff Mattson (Zen Tricksters), Howie Schnee (Creative Entertainment Group), Charlie Hitchcock, Rajiv Parikh (New Monsoon), Ed Harris (Lake Trout), Kerry Black (Superfly), David Gans (Musician, The Grateful Dead Hour), Jamie McLean (Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jamie McLean Band)

Set 1 (www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_01_07.00.phtml):

Marc Brownstein, Steve Kimock, Bela Fleck, Aeve Baldwin (Relix Magazine), Rob Marscher (Addison Groove Project), Mike Doughty (Mike Doughty’s Band, Soul Coughing), Kevin Morris (SCI Fidelity Records), Rob Koritz (Dark Star Orchestra), Josh Clark (Tea Leaf Green), Andy Blackman Hurwitz (Ropeadope), Dennis McNally (A Long Strange Trip).