SKF NOTE: Jaimoe is wonderful guy and a unique, all-around drummer. For those who don’t know Jaimoe’s straight-ahead jazz playing, I’ve included the clip below. Jaimoe stretches out with a fun solo starting at 11:59 in the video.

Mississippi welcomes home legendary drummer Jaimoe
Jacob Threadgill, The Clarion-Ledger 10:18 p.m. CST January 9, 2015

When Jai Johanson left Mississippi in 1965, he told his mother he wouldn’t return until he could afford his own bus ticket home. He returns 50 years later better known as the musical legend Jaimoe.

[H]e joined forces with the Duane and Gregg Allman to forever change Southern rock with the founding of the Allman Brothers Band in 1968.

“I had originally decided to go to New York and play jazz..,” Jaimoe said by phone from his home near Hartford, Connecticut.

“I used to wonder how anyone could play in Count Basie’s band or Duke Ellington’s band for so long, and it’s all about chemistry,” Jaimoe said.

Saturday, the Iron Horse Grill in Jackson is unveiling the grand opening of the 2,500-square-foot Mississippi Music Experience that will include the commemoration of a life-sized wax figure of Jaimoe that will join other Mississippi greats B.B. King, Elvis, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.

“I hope they have some cameras there because they’ll see a grown man cry tears of joy,” Jaimoe said.

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