Last surviving member of The Band. Age 87. RIP.
1. ”It Makes No Difference” (from the album Northern Lights – Southern Cross, 1975)
Northern Lights – Southern Cross, The Band’s last proper album with their original five-man unit, features many moments where Hudson rose to the occasion. On this towering ballad, sung to soul-baring perfection by bassist Rick Danko, Garth takes over on saxophone late in the song.
After Danko has wrung out the contents of his heart for the final time, he leaves it to Hudson on sax and Robbie Robertson on guitar to close the deal. It’s a fascinating duet that mirrors the emotions roiling inside the narrator as he bemoans his unrequited love. Hudson’s playing evokes soulful resignation, the feeling that continuing to moan about a situation beyond one’s control is useless. By contrast, Robertson pours it all out there with his tortured licks, the unrestrained id to Hudson’s controlled ego.
Garth Hudson, master instrumentalist and last surviving member of The Band, dies at 87
Garth Hudson, the Band’s virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician, has died at age 87. Hudson, the eldest and last survivor of the group which once backed Bob Dylan, has died at age 87.
apnews.com
1. ”It Makes No Difference” (from the album Northern Lights – Southern Cross, 1975)
Northern Lights – Southern Cross, The Band’s last proper album with their original five-man unit, features many moments where Hudson rose to the occasion. On this towering ballad, sung to soul-baring perfection by bassist Rick Danko, Garth takes over on saxophone late in the song.
After Danko has wrung out the contents of his heart for the final time, he leaves it to Hudson on sax and Robbie Robertson on guitar to close the deal. It’s a fascinating duet that mirrors the emotions roiling inside the narrator as he bemoans his unrequited love. Hudson’s playing evokes soulful resignation, the feeling that continuing to moan about a situation beyond one’s control is useless. By contrast, Robertson pours it all out there with his tortured licks, the unrestrained id to Hudson’s controlled ego.