DJ Hairy Larry Presents Paul Lessard Playing White Rats And Meerkats
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-06-22
1625 Groove Street
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I wrote this year and recorded at HairyLarryLand.
Paul Lessard is one of the finest jazz saxophonists I have ever worked with. When he joined the faculty at ASU I went to meet him to talk about music composition because, the truth is, there’s just not that many people into the nuts and bolts of music theory and composition. When I found out that he played jazz saxophone I knew I wanted to play with him.
He played with Bebop Beatniks on the KASU Arkansas Roots Stage at the Beatles At The Ridge Festival in 2024. Then he played with us again at Blues Fest and we recorded the album, “The Blue Crane”, on our second gig together.
Then this year, over Spring Break, my friend Chris Isom was coming to town and I set up a session with an amazing band and we recorded an album, “1625 Groove Street”. I wrote two of the songs on that album, the title track and “White Rats And Meerkats” which I have seleceted to play for you today.
Personnel on the album were
Paul Lessard – alto sax
Craig Collison – vibes
Chris Isom – drums
Spencer Rawlins – bass
and
Hairy Larry – piano
Craig also taught at ASU. He was the director of percussion studies until he retired. Chris and Spencer both went to school with me in the jazz program at ASU and they have helped me many times with my recitals and with New Jazz In Jonesboro.
Bebop Beatniks played at New Jazz In Jonesboro last month and I am working on a video of that show as I type. Once I start a project like that it consumes me, even when I am doing other things.
I will include links to the video and the albums mentioned on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Ok now, recorded at HairyLarryLand on March 25, 2025, here’s my song, “White Rats And Meerkats”.
Something Blue Archives Featured Concert
Hairy Larry – 1625 Groove Street
archive.org/details/hl2025-03-25
Something Blue Archives – List Of Concerts
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Bebop Beatniks Live at Craighead Forest Bandshell on 2024-09-29
archive.org/details/hl2024-09-29.album
Video of Bebop Beatniks Live at Craighead Forest Bandshell on 2024-09-29
archive.org/details/hl2024-09-29
Bebop Beatniks Live at Beatles Park on 2024-09-21
archive.org/details/hl2024-09-21
music
And that’s “White Rats And Meerkats” recorded by ASU students and faculty on March 25, 2005. Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, to hear Bob Reynolds and Sun Ra.
Bob Reynolds – Live In New York
DJ Hairy Larry With Bob Reynolds Playing Rise And Fall
Something Blue – Honeysuckle – 29 second spot
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob Reynolds and Sun Ra. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
Sun Ra – Uncharted Passages
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Troubled – sbblues.com/2025/06/21/troubled/
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