Fernandina Beach, FL, 3 May 2003 ~ Armond Blackwater.

The Greatest Story Never Told -- Despite the fact that I have been researching Ron Russell's story for over 4 years, it struck me one day that I had never seen him play live. I'd listened to CD's where he was the session drummer, I had felt the rhythm of his soul, but I had not even seen him practice, or pick up a set of sticks for that matter. Ron showed me his new DW's shortly after they arrived, but they were brand new and he wouldn't let anyone look at them for too long.

I finally found my opportunity when Bertie Higgins and The Band of Pirates were booked to play the Fernandina Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach, Florida. I emailed Ron my request to rove the backstage, take photos, and learn something about the folks who are closest to Ron. I never know what to expect when I interview the characters in Ron's life. PJ and I drove our van from Nepture Beach, West on Atlantic to 9A, north over the Dames Point Bridge, and along the shoreline that is one of the most beautiful vistas on the planet.

Pre-Gig: We met Ron on Amelia Island on Friday night where the three of us slid into Sliders for appetizers and libations. It was wonderful to see Ron again. Though we are in constant touch via email and talk frequently we hadn't seen each other in 18 months.

We spent the next couple of hours catching up on Ron's recent 8 week Las Vegas engagement in the Debbie Reynolds Room and the celebrated annual Caribbean Cruise with Bertie and the Band of Pirates. (PJ and I are going to book our cabin early for next years cruise.)

Ron also spoke of Bertie's new album, which will include new compositions that rely on acoustic guitars and piano -- no synthesizers. Ron grew quite excited talking about one particular song titled The Girl, which Ron describes as an "instant classic love song."

We talked about various opportunities that were coming Bertie's way and therefore the band and Ron. One very promising venture involves the under-construction Key Largo Hotel & Casino slated to open in 2005. The plan is for the band to relocate to Las Vegas from Florida as a base and play a lucrative house gig in Vegas while continuing to perform high-visability concerts and to record.

The evening then took a turn as band members filtered into the club. What I learned in the next few hours was that these folks are more like a family than a band, a closeknit family.

Amy Halisky was first to join us. Amy is a backup singer in the Pirates and the daughter of keyboardist and musical director Mark Halisky. Amy is a stunningly beautiful woman. Beyond her obvious physical attributes is a beauty that exudes only from the heart and soul of a peace-filled human being. Once I met her mother, Cyndi, the next day, it was clear where that incredible beauty originated (pictured: Amy, Cyndi Halisky).



Next, Paradise Ralphie (blues harp and congas) and Wes "Road Manager Extraordinaire" King arrived at the bar. That's Paradise Ralphie pictured on the left. Ron Russell described Paradise Ralphie as the crazyman of the group. "Every family has a black sheep, Ralphie is ours." Ralphie is prone to running from the stage out into the crowd as a crazy pirate blowing enchanting harmonica licks into a wireless microphone, he is quite the showman.

Paradise Ralphie pounded congas, shook his maracas and his ass, added hand chimes on cue, grinned, paraded and performed like he has been doing this since Shakespeares time, like maybe an ancestor of Paradise Ralphie actually performed in a "Will-Shake Production".

Beside all that, have you ever wanted to party with a dude more than this cat?

Wes (sorry no picture, somehow I missed him) has the nerves of a fighter pilot. The next day, I followed while Wes piloted the large RV Motorhome used for touring down ultra-narrow ancient streets, past cars that I didn't even think my little van would clear and somehow got us to parking spaces behind the stage. Remarkable driver.

Eventually, the man himself bounced into Sliders, Bertie Higgins. And I do mean bounced, Bertie is one energetic cat. The word magnanimous came to mind when I first met Bertie, he makes a person feel like they're an old friend, genuinely. I must admit I was more than a little nervous in meeting one of the all-time best songwriters, the cat who wrote Key Largo, which is my candidate for the greatest love song ever, but Bertie made PJ and I feel totally at ease. Just as Ron Russell had embraced us so many moons before.

The evening served well to demonstrate that everyone around Ron is like that, beautiful folks with enormous love in their heart who freely share that love with all they meet.

The Concert.

I met Mark Halisky (pictured left) Saturday morning at breakfast in the hotel. Again, I was meeting a hero of mine, a Tampa keyboard legend. This time though, the hero was a fellow keyboard player. Somehow, that provided me with some common ground (if I can modestly include myself in the keyboardist fraternaty alongside Mark). Mark is a graduate of the Berkeley School of Music, an amazing keyboard player, arranger, musical director, and could play first-chair trumpet in most orchestras.

Mark brings two keyboards to gigs: an Ensoniq TS-12 and a venerable Yamaha DX7 that he purchased way back in 1978. I asked Mark about the vintage instrument - the DX7 dominated popular music for several years with its innovative, crystal clear digital synthesizer sounds - and Mark explained that the DX7 provides all of the string and horn sounds, i.e. the orchestra. He went on to say that the Ensoniq TS-12 was used mostly as a sequencer. One output of the TS provides a click-track back to a Samson headphone amplifier for drummer Ron Russell.

Mark brings the synthesizer orchestra sounds to life by playing actual trumpet riffs. The effect is as much psychological as it is audible. Watching a virtuouso trumpeter with your eyes combines with hearing the lead horn sound and when they get to your brain you envision an entire horn section. It's like some kind of multi-sensory mirage that Mark is creating, which is way cool.
Another affect that took me a while to realize -- after working on this article and reviewing the pictures I'm wondering where is the bass player? Were they sequenced? Had to have been. It sure felt and sounded like a real bass player. Man, that is some fancy midi programming.

In come the pirate wenches (PJ is screaming at me about the sexist reference -- "but, they're a band of pirates") better known as backup singers Cathy Mcabee and Amy Halisky (pictured right backstage). Both ladies also play tamborines and various rhythm devices.

These two ladies provide the angelic voices behind Bertie's sturdy baratone. They also provide further illumination from within, a true joy for performing that shines upon the crowd like a Bahamian sunrise.

The concert brought a wonderful feeling of joyous freedom, delight of being alive and sharing paradise on such a glorious day.

Paul Buzine plays lead guitar with an effortless intensity that made me doubt my eyes. This cat is one talented guitar player. In the picture to the left Paul plays on despite a missle attack of microphones from the stage. (Actually, this was the best camera angle that we could find without interfering with the show).

More than one amorous lady in the crowd considered Paul to be a major "hottie". "How much for the cabin boy?" one lady queried waving a wad of one-hundred dollar bills. She was obviously referring to Paul. Paul blushed like an underdog prom queen who had just won, simultaneously he glanced fearfully toward Bertie. It made for a tense and funny moment. Princess J and I fully expected Bertie to open the bidding on The Cabin Boy who would have gone for a Kings' Ransom.

Paul emailed me that he was sure his sweatheart, backup singer Kathy Macabee, would have interceded and stopped the auction. You see, they are a couple of true lovebirds.

Paul Buzine and Kathy Macabee perform as a duo in addition to privateering with the Band of Pirates. I listened to the sample of audio clips on their web site http://www.kpvibes.com/ Paul assured me that I would be "amazed at how great Kathy is." He wasn't wrong. Kathy has a beautiful, rich voice with a vast range of expression and pinpoint control. I was particularly taken by her unique phrasing. My ears perked up while listening to Dancing Queen, the vocal colour lifted my spirit. All of the audio clips are great. I can't wait to see them perform as KP Vibes. (Read bios of Kathy and Paul at http://www.kpvibes.com/bios.html)

Paul was the only member that I didn't meet. Ron explained that Paul focuses himself in preperation for the gig. Focus is another common attribute in The Band of Pirates. They come to entertain and have a laser focus on their objective.

Ron Russell plays with determination, concentrating on the click track and placing every stroke, flam, cymbal crash, and snare roll precisely as they should be. The man is a machine.

I've listened to Ron playing with jazz pianist Allon Sams, so I know the cat can really blow, you dig. I mean way, way out there in the land of Buddy Rich, Neal Pert, and Carl Palmer.

At this concert I saw Ron playing with restraint, discipline, and solid platinum professionalism. I was seeing what Jimi Hendrix saw over 30 years before when he chose Ron for his new band. It was clear why Jimi felt so comfortable, open, free and alive when playing with Ron. Here was a drummer not a basher.

I don't recall seeing Ron break a smile during the entire show. If you saw this pirate in a dark alley you would hasten not to cross him. A stark contrast to the man inside whose heart is large and compassion endless.

Nonetheless, Bertie and the Band of Pirates emit a feeling of joy, happiness, and love, heartfelt love for the folks who came to watch them perform.

Montego Bay is a clear-cut case of a singer making a song his own. I loved the rendition when I heard it on the album, Bertie's live performance was spellbinding, phenomenal.

Berite had to have been a swashbuckling pirate in a previous life or two, he has that swagger about him.

That soft, sensuous voice of his early recordings is still there, but Bertie's voice has matured and broadened in body, depth and richness as only time and a lot of rum can do.

Like most, I immediately accepted Key Largo as one of the greatest songs I'd ever heard. The song amply displayed Bertie's prowess as a songwriter, but what I hadn't realized before was how good a guitar player Bertie is. On stage he rotates between three custom Carvin semi-acoustic guitars, beautiful instruments with Bertie Higgins emblazoned across their bodies. For too many singers the guitar is just a prop, definately not the case here. The cat knows his ax.

Listening to Trop Rock I recalled something that Bertie said to me Friday night at the bar, "I've been good friends with Gordon Lightfoot for years and he once told me that it is the other tracks on the album where the real gold lies." I'm certain that I nodded politely as he spoke the words, but I didn't get what he meant until I heard his song In Christiansted. Now, I dig!

I love his big hits like Key Largo, Casablanca, The Redneck Riviera, and Jamaican Me Crazy (Princess J's personal favourite), but this time I sat and really listened to the lyrics of the non-hits like Breath of God, a song that speaks of a deeper relationship than most of us ever experience, but is the relationship that we all are searching for.

A relationship that leads to joy, true joy, inner and everlasting joy.

Bertie and The Band of Pirates beam that joyful tropical serenity to the audience making it time to kick back, sip a fruity yet potent drink, and enjoy "Another Beautiful Day In Paradise."



Visit Bertie Higgins and the Band of Pirates at their tropical web site BertieHiggins.com.