Pat DeSalvo (Photo by Arnie Goodman)
Savoy Brown bassist Pat Desalvo, speaks to Jason Barnard about Savoy Brown’s new album ‘Blues All Around’. Shortly after it was completed Kim Simmonds lost his hard-fought battle with cancer on December 13th 2022.
‘Blues All Around’ is a fitting end to Savoy Brown’s albums. Working with Kim, were you conscious of making this album special?
Jason, I knew Kim for thirty four years and made music with him for over twenty years. We felt it was a necessity to make every record special. And knowing we had a limited time on this one, we did not want to disappoint Kim and Savoy Brown fans.
Do you have any favourite tracks and why?
Tough on this one; every song is special. California Days, Hurting Spell and Going Down South. All go back to the story.
What was the recording process for it?
Normally we would get together and practice and record together. On this one, I was not around and Kim was very ill. So we got the demos from Kim and worked separately. We had some conversations about songs. All said and done, Kim gave us a good blueprint to work with. Me and Garnet had been working together for years prior to playing with Kim – and then taking into consideration our time with Kim – it came together organically. Garnet and I went in and recorded drums and bass parts over Kim’s demos. Unfortunately, on the first day in the studio, Kim was at the Roswell Cancer Center. He came in the following day and played keyboard parts, harmonica and slide guitar. Chemo had caused him to have neuropathy in his hands; which limited Kim but could not keep him down from doing the best he could on the record. He gave 100% in every way he could.
‘Blues All Around’ follows up the acclaimed ‘Ain’t Done Yet’, how would you say the two LPs compare?
Two completely different records. For one, for “Blues All Around” we were in a different studio with a different engineer, Ron Keck, who luckily we had worked with quite a bit in the past. The previous record – “Ain’t Done Yet” was recorded with Ben Elliott at Showplace studios. Unfortunately Ben passed away from cancer shortly after the record was completed. When we started recording “Blue All Around”, we had not seen or played with each for almost a year. Kim was very sick, and once again, it was a completely different process for the recording. Emotionally, we were all over the place. No one said it out loud. We were bandmates – and more importantly friends. Not to be overly dramatic, we knew our journey was changing and would never be the same again.
Can you tell us about your musical background and how you got started playing bass?
Yes I had a cousin, Buz Cua, who taught guitar. I was thirteen and needed some direction so I began my humble career. I studied classical music at the Philadelphia Music Academy. I realized I wanted to make a living as a musician and decided to go on the road and play.
How did you become a member of Savoy Brown and what has your experience been like playing with the band?
Kim had come out to a venue I was playing, so I came up to him and introduced myself. That started a friendship. I had done several projects with Kim up to this point. Years later he was doing a show in my home town and Gerry, his bass player, was ill. He asked me to come to the festival and be there in case Gerry could not finish the show. Luckily Gerry did the show. Kim got back to me and asked if I could do a tour. At first I said I could not. I did not want to embarrass myself or Kim. I told him. He got back to me later that week and said he temporarily needed someone to fill in. I asked Garnet who would later become are drummer if he would learn the material so we could rehearse before I went on tour. We rehearsed and it well. I did the tour. We got off the plane at the end of the tour and Kim asked me to join the band. Well it validated my musical career. I got to travel the world and make music and memories with two friends.
What is your favorite Savoy Brown song and/or album and why?
So many …I’m Tired, Wearing Thin, Walking on Hot Stones..
Can you tell us about any memorable moments or experiences while playing with Kim and being on tour with Savoy Brown?
Lots of history there.. Kim is telling the German audience he loved them, their food on and on.. But we were in Belgium.
How do you keep your playing fresh and inspired after years of performing and recording?
It is what I do, it is my release. You can never think that you have arrived, you can always improve and grow.
Can you speak to the importance of improvisation in your music and how it contributes to the band’s overall sound?
Good question: we have the structure of a jazz band. In other words we play what jazz players call the head. For us it’s the song as the audience knows it and then we improvise or jam. That’s a trademark of Savoy Brown.
And finally, what is your overriding memory of Kim and what legacy has he left to blues rock?
Once again a long friendship. I miss the calls and texts. Playing shows, driving and talking for hours, getting to travel and having the best seat in the house with my friends.
A side note. Garnet and I are playing with Sean Chambers who is on the same label as us, Quatro Valley Records. We just did a tour in Europe last October 2022. While we were there he talked to Kim or texted daily. We are playing shows in the states and hopefully will be recording a record soon.
My awareness of Kim & Savoy Brown goes all the way back to the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, MI in the mid-late 60’s. I’m fortunate to have a full library of Savoy Browns music throughout the decades. Kim will stay in “A-Rotation” in my life.