Al Kooper + The Funky Faculty

Al Kooper appeared on Dylan’s peak albums, Highway 61 Revisted (Like A Rolling Stone) and Blonde on Blonde, as well as producing New Morning for Dylan in 1970. He toured as a member of Dylan’s band off and on over the years. He was a member of the influential group, The Blues Project 1965-1967 and formed Blood Sweat & Tears in 1967 remaining for their debut album,Child Is Father To The Man. Kooper was the principal songwriter for both bands. He appeared on and produced the platinum Super Session album with legendary guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills.

He has recorded and released ten solo albums over the last 30 years. He played as a sideman on albums by George Harrison; The Rolling Stones; Jimi Hendrix; BB King, The Who, Cream, and many more. He discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and produced their first three albums which include Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird, and Saturday Night Special.

He additionally produced The Tubes, Nils Lofgren, Mike Bloomfield, Steven Stills, Appaloosa, The Don Ellis Band, Lenny White, BB King, Green On Red, Jimmy Vivino, David Essex, Johnny Van Zant, a Harry Nilsson tribute album and many others. His autobiogarphy, Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards was published in 1998 and was critically hailed as one of the best rock books ever written.

And now all of Al Kooper’s talents as songwriter, musician, arranger and producer come to fruition on Black Coffee. Nine great new Kooper compositions appear on the new CD, including co-writes with Dan Penn (“Going, Going, Gone”) and Sandi Stewart (“Imaginary Lover”), as well as Kooper’s own stamp on the Temptations’ “Get Ready,” Keb’ Mo’s “Am I Wrong,” former Dire Straits member Hal Lindes’ “Got My Ion Hue” and the Ray Charles classic, “Just For A Thrill,” a salute to one of his greatest influences.

Appropriate for all ages.