Purple Haze tribute to Jimi Hendrix
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Purple Haze tribute to Jimi Hendrix

Vallejo, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF

Vallejo, California, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2012
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"Purple Haze"

Copyright 2012 Sierra Sun. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. January, 4 2012 7:43 pm
Forever bold as love: Jimi Hendrix cover band to rock North Tahoe Saturday night
Sierra Sun


ENLARGE
Ralph Woodson will portray Jimi Hendrix in the trio Purple Haze, which plays Saturday in the Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room.
Courtesy photo
CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. — Jimi Hendrix was so innovative he's been dead more than 40 years and is still considered the greatest guitarist of all time.

The Rolling Stone in November listed its top 100 players, and Hendrix — who only played his instrument 12 years and re¬corded just four albums — is No. 1.

“I think the second best player would be miles behind Jimi,” said Ralph Woodson, who portrays Hendrix in the trio Purple Haze, which plays Saturday in the Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room. “Jimi catapulted us into the future with his creativity which stands unmatched on the electric guitar. He had a special way of looking at things and did everything your guitar teacher told you not to do.”

Woodson is a veteran Bay Area guitarist whose has fronted and played with nu¬mer¬ous bands in a variety of genres, including blues (Lady Bianca), reggae (Mighty Diamonds), rap (Dru Down) and rock (Neal Schon, Billy Kreutzmann).

He now is having his best success as a Hendrix tribute performer with bassist Pete Roberts and drummer Dan Cueva. He played three times in the casino's smaller Red Room before moving to the larger Crown Room, where he is set to play for the third time.

“He is without a doubt the best I have ever seen at covering Hendrix, said Casino Manager Bill Wood, “and a lot of other folks feel that way too, as he packs the Crown Room every time we have him up for a free show.”

“The sound in that place is superior,” said Woodson, who has plenty to say about the superior sound from Hendrix.

“There are a lot of great guitarists now, a lot who have taken it to other levels, but just in a different way,” Woodson said. “There are a lot of shredders. But creativity — that's where I put Jimi way above everybody else. That's what I'm talking about when I say he's the greatest. He could hear sounds in his head and then duplicate them.”

Two of Hendrix's biggest influences, Buddy Guy, the first to make feedback sound cool, and Muddy Waters, are well down the magazine's list. Guy is No. 23, Waters 49.

“On songs like ‘Voodoo Child,' if you listen to Muddy, Hendrix is doing that, but Jimi took it to another place,” Woodson said. “It was a call and response with the voice and guitar. He got so comfortable with that language that he could speak it in his sleep.”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience (with British musicians Mitch Mitchell on drums, Noel Redding bass) made three albums, and Hendrix recorded a live album with Band of Gypsys, which included two African-Americans, drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox.

Woodson, a boy during the Vietnam War, said his life changed after he heard his brother playing the Band of Gypsys' live version of “Machine Gun.”

In its homage to Hendrix, Rolling Stone wrote, “On songs like ‘Machine Gun' or ‘Voodoo Chile,' his instrument is like a divining rod of the turbulent Sixties — you can hear the riots in the streets and napalm bombs dropping in his “Star-Spangled Banner.”

Hendrix will remain on people's minds in 2012. It was announced the annual Hendrix tribute tour will continue in March with participants including Cox, Guy, and the Doors Robby Krieger. And a guitar shaped park in Hendrix's hometown Seattle will open the year of Hendrix's 70th birthday. In the spring, polonia trees will bloom bright purple.

Purple Haze later this month will make its second tour through the great Northwest, where there are plenty of knowledgeable fans.

“When I was in Portland, the crowd was hollering for ‘Poli Gap,' Woodson said, referring to a relatively unknown song from the album “Rainbow Bridge.” “ - Tim Parsons


Discography

Purple Haze has one Cd titled (Purple Haze Featuring Ralph Woodson) Ralph Woodson also has four original Cd's

1. Ralph Woodson Incredible Dreamer
2. The Ralph Woodson Trio
3. Ralph Woodson Rise Above
4. Ralph Woodson Thank You
all of our music is available at www.cdbaby.com

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Bio

Purple Haze

Ralph Woodson – guitar, lead vocal

Ralph Woodson’s Purple Haze is not your typical tribute band.
He has studied his idol to the point of being able to play the guitar behind his back, and with his teeth. Ralph’s a Hendrix authority, and it’s obvious when you see him perform.

The youngest of nine, he grew up in Richmond, CA, and was initially struck by the sound of the “Band of Gypsys” record. Ralph has toured with Hedzoli Sounds (of which Hugh Masekela was a member), as well as The Mighty Diamonds, Lady Bianca, Faye Carol, and a Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead)/Sy Klopps (Herbie Herbert) collaboration called the Trichromes. With the Trichromes and later with the Sy Klopps Blues Band, Ralph played on big stages opening for Tower of Power, James Brown, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others. He’s appeared at the College of Marin and on KFOG-FM with author/Hendrix expert Steve Roby, demonstrating the sound and techniques of Jimi Hendrix.

Ralph formed the Ralph Woodson Experience in 2001 (which became Purple Haze in 2010), focusing on the Hendrix material that he grew up with and always loved. Purple Haze has gained a steady following in the Bay Area and knock people out wherever they go. Ralph’s showmanship and command of the Hendrix material is second to none. See it for yourself!

Pete Roberts – bass, backing vocal
Pete enjoyed music at a very early age and began playing bass and guitar when he was twelve. Pete has logged thousands of miles on the road and has appeared at several festivals, including the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

Dan Cueva – drums, percussion
Dan was an all-state high school jazz drummer in Hawaii and played in the University of Hawaii’s marching band and jazz band. He has also played with Mark Emery (Big Brother and the Holding Comp

Recent Shows
Grand Sierra Casino and Resort – Reno NV
Black Oak Casino – Tuolumne CA
Crystal Bay Casino – Tahoe
Sands Regency Casino and Hotel – Reno NV
Coyote Valley Casino – Ukiah
Point Arena Theater – Point Arena CA
Knitting Factory Concert House- Reno NV
Heavenly Ski Resort- South Lake Tahoe CA

For Booking Contact Ralph Woodson Email: ralph.orion@gmail.com phone 510-334-8607
You can also see video and here music at www.purplehazeband.com