Greg (Grischa was his name amongst family and friends - we called him our Russian import) was the the lead guitarist in my Bay Area high school garage band. He joined Greg S. (drummer and cofounder of, after the much debate name, "Blue Sapphire") and I and we were later joined by Brian V. (Bass). I "wrote" all of the material (5 songs). We were all sophomores which means Grischa must have skipped a grade or two. All of our songs were instrumentals (rockish with Grischa's lite jazz fusion). All four of us were fixated on rock/jazz fusion and growing up in the Bay Area gave us access to all the greats and we never missed a Chick Correa, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu Orchestra (once), etc. as well as the main stream stuff constantly available for consumption around the bay; Fillmore West, Stanford, Berkley, Winterland, Circle Star, San Jose State, Foothill JC. The two greatest concerts I ever saw were Frank Zappa at the Circle Star (1976) and Sons of Champlin at one of the annual Stanford homecoming bonfires. The Son's was a small but high production, professionally sounded and lighted performance. The brass instrument shinned like instruments from a 7th Sojourn. Every weekend Blue Sapphire played at keg parties and youth centers for about a year. We only had the five songs and when we told the crown we were out of songs they said just play them again - and we did over and over for hours. We were voted best up and coming high school band in the bay area and won an opportunity to play at Stanford as an opening act for BB King - at least that's what we were told by the promoter. We checked and BB was scheduled to play but had to cancel due complication from diabetes. I don't know if we would have had the nerve to play anyway. What made us a decent sounding band was Grischa's enormous talent. He was all of 12 years old - he looked eight. Classically trained on the piano since he was three or so, I don't believe he ever took a guitar lesson; but he could shred his small gauge stringed Epiphone electric. Greg S. And Brian V. went on to do professional work. Grischa became a professor of linguistic at Loyola, Chicago. I went off and became a deep sea diver, and later, after returning from my world seafaring adventures to attend college, I worked as a commodities broker ( World sugar #11, crude oil, etc.), and a foreign currency trader and banker. Lookin back, thanks to Grischa, we were actually pretty good. I have our recordings somewhere; if can ever find them I will post. Grischa's nick name in the band was Dough-blow, not Dblo WJ777! Greg S had a gift for nicknames and they stuck with the band. Brian was Ned-low; which he hated and got really pissed when we called him that, but to us that was his name. Grischa could not have cared less about his nickname, he jut played like nobody's business. Interestingly, neither Greg S. not I ever got a nickname. I'm not sure why,' he just couldn't come up with anything for us - besides I was the one who could write songs which made me the de-facto front man and exempt from the Greg S.' renaming obsession. As the sole song writer my station was secure. I not sure what drove Greg's need for renaming people but I know that he got the name ideas from a late night car dealer in San Jose than ran old TV programs under the name Price Slasher while pitching used car. We took on another guitar player that was light years ahead of me, as a musician, and who was several light years behind Grecia. First practice with the new recruit Greg S, renamed him the "Old Sourdough. We asked why Sourdough, and he said because that he is now. Phil was he actual name and not one bit happy with the change. Several times at practice, while working on a song, Greg S would refer to Phil as the "oOd Sourdough" about something mistake that would turn Phil turn beet red,he'd pack his stuff and storm out. But he would always return next session to grovel over and worship Grischa. He was that good- even in his boy scout uniform that he wore when I did have time to change. Finally Phil dropped out, He jus couldn't keep up with what we were doing. Meaning he couldn't keep up with Grischa even though he was pretty good player. I wrote jazz fusion with some sophisticated time change stuff and then Grischa would take us to another planet. BTW, where are all the other "Likes." This is an amazing performance! Excuse me but I have to listen again.
Veteran Canadian Drummer Roger Strange, wrote this after watching this video... "Thought I should share........Seamless communication between those two on a level that perfectly illustrates absolute fluidity in the language of Music. I know places that you would have been able to hear a pin drop on a pillow when those two played that tune. Even my little Pomeranian Dog, once she heard them playing, stood stock still, cocked her head and went totally silent."
