Herb Pederson & The Dillards

PERCEPTIVE READERS, which I'm sure you all are, will have noticed my enthusiastic reports of a press reception I attended, actually on May 24th this year, to see Johnny Rivers, with what was described as his L.A. Boogie Band, which consisted, according to the invitation, of Johnny Rivers [guitar], Michael Melvoin [piano], Jim Horn [flute and saxophone], Jack Conrad [bass], Dean Parks [guitar], Chuck [described as Chuch] Findley [trumpet], and Jim Gordon [drums]. Those with long memories will also recall that at the very same time, another band of musical colossi, the Kentucky Colonels, was making what has most unfortunately proved to be its final tour of England in the form we would really like to see it, with all due respect to the remaining members. That band was advertised as consisting of three White brothers, Roland, Eric and the late Clarence, plus Herb Pederson, once the lightning fast banjo picker with the Dillards, a long time favourite band of mine, but one about which I knew relatively little. In fact, sometimes it's better if you don't know too much, because excessive fax and info can often come dangerously close to stifling the music, than which there is nothing worse.