Col. Bruce Hampton’s Outstructional Video

When I first heard of Col. Bruce and the Aquarium Rescue Unit I was taking guitar lessons at a local store and my teacher played me the “Mirrors of Embarrassment” album.  Everything about that album was totally cool from Jimmy’s blazing solos to the interplay with drummer Jeff Sipe and  bassist Oteil Burbridge.

I have recently got to know Oteil and Jimmy a little bit and it occured to me how important those ARU albums were to me and I never really spent time talking to them about it.  However, they did have a TON of great Col. Bruce stories.  From meeting Ralph Towner in DC on night to discussing the possiblities of any blood relation between Col. Bruce and John Abercrombie (they look like they could easily be brothers) it was one story right after another.  After a few of these you get the feeling that their former bandleader is a bit eccentric.

I came across these videos on YouTube and they perfectly describe the Colonel’s famous sense of humor.

Here is Part One:

Here is Part Two:

You can’t make this stuff up.