A Sax to the Soul, Martin Fierro
As I sit to write this post, all I can think of is - "many hours of smiles."
Known for his fiery playing, magnetic personality and zany on-stage
antics, Mr. Fierro, a longtime Marin resident, was one of the Bay Area
music community's most beloved characters."
"Many hours of amazement." "Many hours of dancin." History, blowing through the fabric of my mind......of which I was one of the many recipients....
"Martin Fierro, a renowned
jazz-rock saxophonist who played with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful
Dead and became an elder statesman of the jam band scene, died of
cancer Thursday at Marin General Hospital. He was 66.
I came to know Martin (Mar-TEEN) through his association with one of my favorite guitar players, Steve Kimock. Seeing Martin at a show was an experience, a laugh, a smile, and simply unforgettable.
He would tell a joke between songs. He would often times, share "on stage banter" with the crowd....but for Martin, (and my musical experience with him) I always felt as though the music (and projects/bands/concerts/collaborations) that he participated in, were more than simply, expressions of his talent.....they were - powerful emotional currents, running from his heart, to saxophone, to my ears, and my soul.
His eye contact at a venue was priceless. He made a point of connecting visually, and he knew how to gauge, as well as ENGAGE.
Martin had the pleasure of blowing saxophone for Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, as well as some other very influential bands (Mother Earth, Quicksilver Messenger Service,Legion of Mary, ZERO)......but, most of all, he was a unique spirit in every sense of the term.
Mr. Fierro, who sometimes wore feathers or a headdress on stage, was
revered for his penetrating sense of humor. He deflated heady egos with
his signature saying, "Chut up!" His ebullient greeting, "Hello
meester!" earned him the nickname "The Meester."
"He made me believe in the spiritual power of music," said Matt Eakle,
flutist with the David Grisman Quintet. "If there is magic in the
world, Martin knew how to channel it." Blair Jackson over a DEAD.net wrote a great piece, titled: Rest In Peace, Martin Fierro. If you want to hear how good Martin was, you can stream a show he did with ZERO in Arkansas in 1998.....it is one of my all time favorite live performances by any band. The 3-21-98 show is HERE. The past 20+ years, I've spent a lot of time driving. Driving around the country, up and down the east coat, and likewise out west. I've traveled the country to see music, and on many occasions MARTIN FIERRO has been a huge part of that experience. From my personal standpoint, I never got to say thank you to Martin for all the enjoyment, smiles, and good energy he has given me as I stared out the windshield, looking at the highway - with many miles ahead.... Sometimes the saxophone he blew would make my sigh, sometimes grin, and sometimes cause me to shed a tear. Today, I salute a gentlemen who - "hit my soul" in so many ways. Thank you sir MARTEEEEEN, and I know you are jammin' in heaven with Garcia, Cippolina, and a few others...... I'm sure the tape deck's are rolling......
Headed over directly to hear that performance now.
Posted by: Jaime Macias | March 30, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Hey Mr. Monfried,
Wow, I'm glad ur back on the board...when I noticed your new co. info as CEO, I had to check it out, which then led to your blog, and this wonderful post. (Noticed you were just out here too...next time you're in SF, don't be a stranger!)
My how I miss Martin...we'd become far closer in the last yr, and had the pleasure of "voyaging" w/ him in Nov.--he tried to prep me for Jamcruise as best he could, but I never got to tell him about it, and it makes me so sad, I didn't get to see him again. I just knew something was really not right when he didn't email me back in late Jan. when I returned.
Last Denver wkend, I again was missing him majorly, esp. w/ Bobby back in the mix. Oh, well, when they busted into Merle's, I was like for the M&Ms! And he was all about that Better Git Hit.
Well, miss ya too, man...the pics of your family here are awesome--how beautiful they are. Hope to c u soon & hold down the fort for me at Mexicali in a couple wks, eh? Love, D
Posted by: Dana Hanaman | May 01, 2008 at 01:52 PM