Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band
The Haunt
Ithaca, NY
04/24/91

Our very own commenter Jeff sent me this one from his own taping archives. He says its never been released anywhere else. Its a very nice sounding show and a really great performance. Apologies to Jeff for taking so freaking long to get this up.

Recorded by Jeff (nowurtalkin)

1. Blues for the Rainforest
2. Drums
3. Blue Hill Ocean Dance
4. After Midnight
5. Do I Move You
6. Save Mother Earth
7. Sugaree
8. I Just Want To Be Your Lover Man

Notes from the taper:

There are a few spots on this recording where it sounds like there is a major tape drag, like from out of nowhere, however there are also a few unmistakable instances where it is merl who does this w/the music. He had some kind of flanger or pitch control thing, I guess hooked up to his Hammond, and does this effect occasionally. But there are a couple times when it truly sounds like the recorder is about to die or eat tape & I cannot say for certain if all the instances were purposely done by merl? But there is no reason for the recorder to have done it. Also, there was an in-song tape flip done, during sugaree I think, at around 48 min +. And so I could not help having a 1 second long dropout on the transfer. I cut out that dropout but the joint is not perfectly lined up. Not bad tho. Also there was an unexplained close to 10 second dropout, during the time after sugaree, and the encore, while merl was talking. That’s somewhere around 54:00 mark. I cut out that dropout & it’s almost unnoticeable. I still am VERY inexperienced at this.