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Full Moon Resort’s Music Masters Camps: Allowing Songs to Fill the Air

Can you tell us about a few past surprises?

Sure! Let’s see … last year Todd Rundgren brought in Peter Buck from R.E.M. … Umphrey’s McGee brought in Stanley Jordan to work with them … Medeski Martin & Wood always bring in incredible people such as John Scofield … the list goes on and on. (laughter)

Also there are often evening jam sessions, films, various social gatherings …

And campfires – tell me you have campfires.

Absolutely! (laughs) So, to answer your question, I guess that’s a very basic template for the week, ending with our Friday farewell.

Unless you’re staying to get married that weekend.

(laughs) Very good point!

Sounds like the food’s pretty darn good, too.

Oh, the catering’s exceptional. It ranges from really lovely down-home country barbeques outside to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to full-on dinners with all kinds of really exceptional gourmet dining.

I’m going to apologize ahead of time, as I know this isn’t a fair question to ask you at all – but … (laughter) Do you have any favorites from these first years of sessions?

Oh … (laughs) Well, in the very beginning those intimate performances with Jorma Kaukonen and his special guests – such as Artie Traum, David Bromberg, G.E. Smith and others – were great … all the early performances by Medeski Martin & Wood …. Umphreys McGee’s “sUMmer school” … Three Of A Perfect Pair – that’s Tony Levin, Pat Masteletto and Adrian Belew – have been here in the past … the list goes on and on. That’s a really challenging question! (laughs)

I know, I know – that wasn’t fair. But how about this: let’s give folks a quick run-down of the artists you have on board for 2013. That should be easier.

Great! (laughter) Let’s see … we have Sarah Fimm’s Sparkle Camp, which is really quite wonderful. Drummer Benny Greb will be hosting a Master Session. There will be some real jazz greats on hand for Creative Music Studio’s 40th Anniversary retreat: John Medeski, Karl Berger, Dave Douglas, Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Harvey Sorgen are some of the names.

And then we have Butch Trucks and Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers along with Luther and Cody Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars … two generations of rock ‘n’ roll! We’re really looking forward to that. Let’s see … Railroad Earth will be with us … Umphrey’s McGee is coming back … Richard Thompson is returning – that’s a fabulous camp … Dweezil Zappa will be back … Paul Gilbert, a brilliant guitarist, is on board for this year, as is Steve Howe from Yes. And – we just confirmed Dark Star Orchestra, which is really exciting.

And more to come, I assume. We should encourage folks to check the website for the most recent schedule.

Absolutely – we still have a few more artists we’re finalizing things with that we’ll be announcing soon.

Brian Robbins pitches his tent over at www.brian-robbins.com