Review Summary: This fully instrumental album is one that belongs in your collection.
In 1979, the Dixie Dregs released Night of the Living Dregs. Their fourth album was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Rock Instrumental Album” category, and well deserved it. A mix between jazz-fusion and progressive rock, the album and Steve Morse’s guitar playing are both technical and relaxing. Tracks 1-4 are recorded in the studio and tracks 5-8 at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival.
The studio section of the record is split mainly with speedy guitar playing, and a slower blues duo of songs. The album starts off at a fast tempo with the first two tracks, Punk Sandwich and Country House Shuffle. These songs are heavily guitar driven and some of the best on the album. The fourth track, Long Slow Distance, is the longest on the album, and has a bluesy feel to it. The second song in the live section, The Bash, has a southern feel to it and is very technical with the guitar. Most of the live tracks incorporate a fiddle, as another leading instrument.
A relatively short album, only thirty five minutes long, Night of the Living Dregs well deserves its Grammy nomination, and belongs in the collection of anyone who enjoys jazz fusion, blues, or southern style music.
