...William Bell is a true national treasure...

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More Pre-Jam Highlights * George Porter, Jr., Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno, Ron Holloway, Trombone Shorty and Craig Sorrells – a/k/a the designated funk/soul ensemble of the 2009 Haynes Jam (with Nigel Hall joining the following night) – doing a long, interweaving jam based on The Meters’ “Look-Ka Py Py”

followed not long after by Stax Records soul legend William Bell joining them to sing his ’60s hit “Everybody Loves A Winner.” Here, every set of eyes in the Orange Peel was on the stage, faces displaying rapt appreciation. A number of those faces would later be coming up to Bell, who spent much of the remainder of the evening out on the main floor, taking in the show and receiving fans’ expressions of appreciation.

21st Annual Christmas Jam *Meanwhile, earlier in the evening I’d gone downstairs to avail myself of the facilities and while standing there I heard music coming from the other side of the wall, a horn section pumping through what sounded like “Born Under A Bad Sign.” Sure enough, when the funk/soul guys were joined by William Bell for the singer’s five-song spotlight, after serving up drop-dead cool, honest-to-Stax takes of “Hard to Handle,” “Everyday is a Holiday,” “You Don’t Miss Your Water” and “Everybody Loves a Winner” they launched into “BUABS,” the classic song Bell wrote that was made famous by everyone from Albert King to Cream. Here, with the horn section plus Haynes, Freed and Whitford all pitching in, it was like seeing one of those end-of-night superstar jams at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Viewing it from the rear of the arena revealed what appeared to be the entire floor in motion, with a good percentage of the balcony standing up and dancing, too. William Bell is a true national treasure, from his tunesmith prowess to his versatility as singer to his infectious, I’m-here-to-make-y’all-feel-good-tonight stage charisma, and his presence among this year’s Jam roster, backed by the likes of bassist Porter and guitarist Krasno, will long be remembered as one of Haynes’ most inspired selections.