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Jack Bruce, who gained fame as the bassist and co-lead singer of Cream, plays Hippiefest at the Broward Center on Sunday. (AP)
More: Directions to Hippiefest, nearby dining
The songs that the power trio Cream recorded in their short but remarkably productive career — between 1966 and 1968 — have had a remarkable staying power, seeming to stay fresh while others have long gone past their time.
“I’m very pleased about that, obviously,” said that band’s bassist/singer, Jack Bruce. “They certainly take on a life of their own. They’re a lot like your children. They go through a lot of changes when a lot of others record them. But they come back occasionally, and you have to do their washing.”
Bruce will be playing the songs he’d written as part of Cream during Sunday’s Hippiefest at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. They include three staples of any Cream collection: “Sunshine of Your Love”, “I Feel Free” and “White Room”, along with a Skip James song, “I’m So Glad”, that Cream recorded for two different LPs and Bruce still really loves.
Even now, Bruce has fun finding new ways to play these classics which he first recorded with the two other rock giants in the band, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker.
“I like to be a bit creative out there,” he said. “I don’t want to just replicate the sound on the albums or the tracks.
“The other night I found a new approach to playing, ended up playing quite a lot of notes. I really enjoyed that — playing a flamenco style on my fretless bass.”
For Hippiefest, Bruce has surrounded himself with musicians that are both familiar to him and fit well within his sound. He’s worked with guitarist Godfrey Townsend several times, and both drummer Steve Murphy and keyboard player Manny Focarazzo are pros.
“We’re a very good, straight-forward rocking band,” Bruce said. “Except myself. I’ve never been straight forward.”
Bruce is not content playing the old songs either — he’s got a slew of new stuff coming out ahead. A live album with his Latin-based band, Cuicoland Express, from a show in 2001 has already been released. A live DVD is coming out, and he’s working on a new LP.
“It’s a completely new project,” Bruce said. “I’m taking an orchestral approach. I can’t really go into it more than that.”
Along with Bruce, Hippiefest will feature War, Rare Earth, Mitch Ryder and Badfinger featuring Joey Molland.
I’m 60 years old and was brought up on the music of the 60′s. I hated that music (except for Badfinger). Hippie music was what turned me to country music thru the late 60′s and early 70′s. Today, despite living with hippies all around me, I’m still not a hippie. And I can’t believe the little kids of today actually think hippies were ever cool.
Get A Life….. You are a sad sack…
Well let me give a totally diff. take then Linda,I wouldnt call it hippie music anymore then I would call country music redneck music.But that Rocknroll of the mid 60s thru early 70s was the best music of its time and some would say of the whole 20th century and still sounds good today thats why the rock stations still play it and the talent level was superior to most music today.
None of these bands have anything to do with Hippies. None are from San Francisco or were particularly psychedelic except maybe three of Bruce’s songs. Everyone else is either urban, r n’b, or Beatle imitators.
Wish I coud be there. Jack Bruce is superb musician and an icon in the music world.
Jack was great on the HippieFest tour … small crowds but he gave them their money’s worth and as usual his musicianship was superb.
What can i say about Jack Bruce except “Thank You”with out his music and bringing the bass sound out front the music of today would be blah and bland,i grew up in the 70′s and iam definately not a hippie but i still like a few bands from the 60,s and iam sure you can guess who my favorite is.
Jack the Bruce will impress anyone who loves quality music. His gift is a thing of pure art.
JL Flanagan from the Tarsands of Ft. McMurray, Canada
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