In 1991 Lavitz was invited to join Widespread Panic after playing keyboards on their first album for the revived Capricorn Records label. The latest “run” of Dregs dates took place in California, during the first week of Jaunary 2007. They had such a good time together that a commitment was made to hit the road for a new tour early in 2000, and each subsequent year as well.

The last week of August 1999, the Dixie Dregs were reunited again for six shows, at which time a new album, “California Screamin'” was recorded at the Roxy in Hollywood, California. The band now boasts three CD’s, “Blue Light Rain,” “Laughing Water” and “Great Sky River,” all of which are available on Zebra/Warner Bros., and a new as yet untitled studio album. Lavitz had been joined in this project by Rod Morgenstein, Billy Cobham, Jeff Sipe, Alphonso Johnson, guitarists Jimmy Herring and Jeff Pevar and most recently, bassist Dave Livolsi. Lavitz was also a founding member of Jazz is Dead, an instrumental exploration into the music of the Grateful Dead. “Bring ’em Back Alive” and the subsequent “Full Circle” studio disc each garnered Grammy nominations (bringing the total to six), and earning Lavitz the coveted “Jazz Keyboardist of the Year” award in Keyboard Magazine’s readers poll. On Valentine’s weekend 1992, the Dixie Dregs did a live reunion album for the newly reformed Capricorn Records in Atlanta, Georgia. As the list of critically acclaimed recordings grew, Lavitz had said some of his favorite sessions were done with Nils Lofgren, Pat Benatar, The Bluesbusters, Peter Himmelman and perhaps most fondly “…I’ll always be a Dreg”.

In addition to the Dixie Dregs, Lavitz performed around the world with Widespread Panic, Mothers Finest, Jefferson Starship, Billy Cobham, and Bill Bruford. Other contributions have also been made by Alex Ligertwood, Maria Muldaur, Jeff Richman, Michael McDonald, Paul Barrere, Catfish Hodge, Oteil Burbidge, Dennis Chambers and many more.

Some of the artists featured on Lavitz’s other albums include fellow “Dregs” Steve Morse, Jerry Goodman, Rod Morgenstein, Dave LaRue and Mark O’Connor, as well as college alumni Danny Gottlieb and Bruce Hornsby. Additionally, Lavitz produced the cult favorite, “Players,” which features stellar performances by Jeff Berlin, Steve Smith, and Scott Henderson. Since then, Lavitz has released eight albums as a leader, consisting mostly of his own compositions. This first taste of fame happened during the last few days of 1978, lasting until the band split in 1983, by which time Lavitz had been voted “Best New Talent” in Keyboard Magazine’s readers poll and the band had garnered four Grammy nominations. It was a dream come true, because they were one of his favorite bands, even at that relatively early stage in their career. By twenty-two, Lavitz was asked to join the “rock, jazz, and everything else” instrumental band, the Dixie Dregs. He started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and was offered a scholarship at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he studied before attending the University of Miami’s School of Music. At the same time, the Beatles invaded America, igniting in Lavitz a lifelong love of rock music.īorn on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey. Lavitz began his intensive study of classical and jazz piano at age seven. Lavitz’s death at a young age comes as shock to the jazz-rock world. I first saw Lavitz many years ago with the famed Dixie Dregs, and later as a founding member of the Grateful Dead-inspired “Jazz is Dead”, alongside Alphonso Johnson, Billy Cobham and Jimmy Herring. One of my favorite keyboardists passed away suddenly in his sleep last month, the incredible T.

Dixie dregs bring em back alive