T
here are few figures in music harder
to pin down than Bruce Hampton.
These days he takes on the role of a
grandfatherly blues man, quick to jest and
hesitant to get heavy about his impact on
jam band culture. In his youth, he fronted the
Hampton Grease Band, fondly remembered
for giving Capricorn Records their secondworst selling album of all time, with a bravely
composed 20-minute recitation of the history
and political temperament of Halifax, Nova
Scotia (it’s a pretty good jam, regardless of
how it might seem on paper).
He’s collaborated with greats and legends,
was on the roster at the first HORDE tour and
had the likes of Dave Matthews and Phish
watching his band, Bruce Hampton and the
Aquarium Rescue Unit, each and every night.
INSIGHT
As they say during interviews for “Basically
Frightened”, a documentary about Hampton,
there was no telling what Bruce would do on
stage each night.
And there’s no telling what he’ll do when he
comes to Anniston on Dec. 11 to play at the
Smoking Moose, either. Ask anyone who’s
seen him play before and they’ll say you’re in
for a hell of a show. Ask Hampton, and he’ll
at least commit to one thing: it’ll be a good
time.
We got a chance to talk to Hampton about
his career, his take on modern music and
the growing legend that he’s a gentleman
madman in the media:
You had Branford Marsalis back on stage
with you guys [Aquarium Rescue Unit]
December 2015 13