The three remaining members of Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock band, Gypsy Sun & Rainbows, recently came together for their first reunion since 1988. Bassist Billy Cox and percussionists Gerardo Velez and Juma Sultan, joined by guitarist Jimy Bleu who stood in for Hendrix, performed at The Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, New York, on August 1, celebrating Hendrix’s enduring influence.
The notable appearances continued as former Noel Redding and Spin Doctors guitarist Anthony Krizan, along with ex-Buddy Miles Express drummer Kenn Moutenot, also joined the lineup.
Reflecting on the chance to perform with Hendrix’s original band members, Bleu remarked, “Having played with each of them before and having been around Hendrix during my younger years, seeing how these three contributed to his extraordinary vision, the event’s production, and their reunion highlights Hendrix’s lasting impact. May his legacy continue to grow!”
The reunion was part of Kiss the Sky, a touring show created by Mike Gotch Vechesky that delves into Hendrix’s catalog and recreates some of his greatest performances, including his sets at Monterey Pop, Fillmore East, and the Cry Of Love tour.
In an interview with Guitar World, Cox reminisced about the iconic Fillmore concert that became the celebrated 1970 live album, Band of Gypsys. He recalled, “During that first show, when we hit our first note and got into those songs, I looked out at the audience and saw people standing there with their mouths wide open. The looks on their faces were priceless. All four of those sets went exceptionally well. We had plenty of material without needing to edit much, made very few mistakes, and felt great from head to toe.”
