Kermit Driscoll Gravely Ill; Benefit to be Held
Bassist Matt Driscoll is perhaps best known for his long association with guitarist Bill Frisell. Driscoll was part of Frisell's band from 1986 until the mid-1990s, and recorded a number of albums with Frisell, including Have a Little Faith, This Land, Before We Were Born, Where In the World?, and the excellent Live, a 1991 trio recording with Frisell, Joey Baron, and Driscoll.
Prior to his association with Frisell, Matt studied at both University of Miami (where he briefly studied with Jaco Pastorious) and Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1978. He moved to New York City at the start of 1980, and soon thereafter was employed by Buddy Rich. In addition to his extensive work with Frisell, Driscoll also worked with downtown composer-improvisers such as John Zorn and Dave Douglas, with whom he worked in a group known as New and Used.
Sometime in the second half of the '90s Driscoll unknowingly contracted Lyme disease from a deer tick bite. He suffered for years from headaches, joint pain, and deep fatigue before he was finally accurately diagnosed. Unfortunately, by this time the disease had entered its tertiary stage, making it very difficult to treat. Though Matt managed to remain active for a time after contracting Lyme disease, he found it increasingly difficult to work. He has managed to appear and play at a couple of benefits in his honor, but it is difficult. In his own words "With this disease you go up and down."
On Monday, January 29, 2007, Driscoll will appear, but probably not perform, at the largest benefit yet for his medical expenses. The lineup is to include Bill Frisell, John Zorn, John Hollenbeck, John Patitucci, Jon Ellis, and Kendrick Scott. The benefit will be held at 8 P.M. at Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. , Lower East Side, NYC. 212-358-7501, www.tonicnyc.com; cover, $25. Tax deductible donations can also be made payable to Emergency Relief Fund (Kermit Driscoll) and mailed to Bill Dennison, Musicians Union Local 802, 322 W. 48th St. New York, NY 10036.
DL Media publicist Matt Merewitz talked to Driscoll at the recent IAJE in New York, and learned that Driscoll's treatments are far beyond what insurance will cover, with antibiotics costing thousands of dollars a month. Contributions towards covering these medical expenses are greatly appreciated. If you can attend the show, it'll no doubt be a great night of music in honor of a man who, though he's never released a recording under his own name, has had significant impact on improvised music over the past 20 years.
Prior to his association with Frisell, Matt studied at both University of Miami (where he briefly studied with Jaco Pastorious) and Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1978. He moved to New York City at the start of 1980, and soon thereafter was employed by Buddy Rich. In addition to his extensive work with Frisell, Driscoll also worked with downtown composer-improvisers such as John Zorn and Dave Douglas, with whom he worked in a group known as New and Used.
Sometime in the second half of the '90s Driscoll unknowingly contracted Lyme disease from a deer tick bite. He suffered for years from headaches, joint pain, and deep fatigue before he was finally accurately diagnosed. Unfortunately, by this time the disease had entered its tertiary stage, making it very difficult to treat. Though Matt managed to remain active for a time after contracting Lyme disease, he found it increasingly difficult to work. He has managed to appear and play at a couple of benefits in his honor, but it is difficult. In his own words "With this disease you go up and down."
On Monday, January 29, 2007, Driscoll will appear, but probably not perform, at the largest benefit yet for his medical expenses. The lineup is to include Bill Frisell, John Zorn, John Hollenbeck, John Patitucci, Jon Ellis, and Kendrick Scott. The benefit will be held at 8 P.M. at Tonic, 107 Norfolk St. , Lower East Side, NYC. 212-358-7501, www.tonicnyc.com; cover, $25. Tax deductible donations can also be made payable to Emergency Relief Fund (Kermit Driscoll) and mailed to Bill Dennison, Musicians Union Local 802, 322 W. 48th St. New York, NY 10036.
DL Media publicist Matt Merewitz talked to Driscoll at the recent IAJE in New York, and learned that Driscoll's treatments are far beyond what insurance will cover, with antibiotics costing thousands of dollars a month. Contributions towards covering these medical expenses are greatly appreciated. If you can attend the show, it'll no doubt be a great night of music in honor of a man who, though he's never released a recording under his own name, has had significant impact on improvised music over the past 20 years.
Labels: bill frisell, john hollenbeck, john zorn, live shows, lyme disease, matt driscoll, musicians benefits
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