I am flattened by this loss. I was fortunate enough to see Jeff play at the local club here in Buffalo (the Tralfalmadore cafe) about 6 years ago or so. His playing prowess has not diminished an inch from the first time I ever heard him play. A funny thing happened during the show that I'll cherish for years.
There I was with my buddy Phil to my right, sitting back and enjoying this guy's technique (we were both guitar players at the time). During a quiet moment in between songs, my buddy gathered some courage and yelled out for a favorite song to be played (one that was written with Mark Knopfler).
Phil yells out "Hey Jeff, I think I love you too much!" Upon hearing this, Jeff got the biggest shit eating grin and yelled back "hey buddy, I don't bend that way.... you come up here and ask me that and I'll bop you one!" To which I yelled back "No, Jeff.... I think he just wants to hear the song!" To which Jeff replies "Well then, the proper way to ask would be "can you please play...." to which everyone in the audience laughed. Upon hearing that my buddy and I both yelled in unison "ok Jeff, Will you PLEASE play I think I love you too much" Jeff, with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders says "Eh, why the hell not!" and launched full throttle into that song. It was a keeper, if there ever was one!
Man, will I miss that bugger... I heard he was to have an album released this year.
Dirwood