Read this letter passed on from Wayne of the Atlanta Parrot Head Club (first PHC in existence). Here's the deal...

Hey There,
I wanted to let you know I just found out this morning that Jimmy has decided to no longer use the horn section. He is pairing down the size of the band and it appears the horns as a section will not be utilized any longer. Jimmy will be keeping John Lovell, the trumpet player, so you will at least get to hear some horn during the show.

It was nice to be able to see you once a year and I'm glad to have made some really great friendships through this gig. I will miss seeing you all.
Be well everyone.
With Peace
Amy Lee

Update: CRB members who will not be on tour this year include Amy Lee, Tom Mitchell, and the dancers Heather Perry and Julie Harkness.

There are threads in the Coral Reefers Forum as well:

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=33

After listening to the Fenway CD, I am glad to not have the horns overpowering the songs this year. Listen to Scarlet Begonias.....yechk

I liked the songs with the horns/sax...

Guess Jimmy is in a different style for awhile...

Amy has been in the band a long time...

Bummer...

But will be in touch with Amy anyway tho.

MP

Man, I hate to hear that. As a former hornplayer myself, I don't really understand the reasoning for this decision. His music has almost always included horns, and despite what others might say, they add to the live concert experience. True, on the live dvds, cds, etc., they might overpower the rest of the band on occasion, but that is a sound technician problem, NOT a hornline problem. In other words, either turn down the hornline's mic's, or turn everyone else's UP!!!


See you in Charlotte!!!

yes you are right tiny....just turn it down a little.......I sure will miss Amy and the horns. I liked it when she did A pirate looks at 40 with Jimmy, she was VERY good. She inspired my kids to play a horn. Did get a chance to email her a couple of times, what a great lady she is....THANKS AMY hope to see you soon........

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

WELL THAT TOTALLY SUCKS!
FIRST FINGERS NOW AMY?

I REALLY WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TICKETS TO THE DALLAS SHOW NOW.

WHATS UP WITH YOU JIMMY?

I'm surprised he didn't find you on some beach somewhere to give you the inside scoop on his career moves, like he did when he told you there would be no 2006 tour.

I think that was the 2005 tour....

Hey, Crawfish has a photo of him and Jimmy. I have seen it.

Furthermore, Buffett been saying he would retire for over a DECADE.

Thanks Paul..........there a "smart ass" in every crowd!

Personally i think Jimmy should sh*t can Peter Mayer and hire Will Kimbrough as lead guitar. I saw Will last weekend at the Rodney Crowell
show , the guy rocks, said he has been in Key West working on the new album with Jimmy.

He was telling the truth. Jimmy WILL retire. Eventually. But nobody knows when.

This sucks...the horns added so much. Everyone said the same s*** when Fingers left the band-that the band would go on and sound fine without him....well guess what? They didn't sound as good.Amy Lee's sax was beautiful but SOASOAS wasn't recorded with a sax, nor was PL@40. I don't like this at all. OPH and Volcano sounded spectacular with the horns. As did the rest of the songs...

Hey Frankie! Looks like crawfish has spare tickets to the Dallas show! Wanna go?

I hate to see Jimmy "size down" for this tour and I wish Amy the best - hope she can do her own stuff - I will support it. Same with TC and Heather - boy will my hubby miss seeing her dance. Wow, times are changing.

First off - and yes I know I could visit the LONG thread on this, maybe when I have more time - Amy did not intend for that letter to be posted. This is an uncomfotable situation for all involved. I just wish her and TC and the rest the best. Kind of a hard way to deal with things being told you are "not needed" weeks before you are set to practice for the upcoming show . . .

Photoshop, a video/photo-processing high-octane workstation setup, and a little time, all you really need for one of those...

I know alot of people who've bugged Jimmy enough to get a picture. I don't think Jimmy discussed his life's plans with any of them.

I had my picture taken with Johnny Cash when I was a little kid. If I showed you that, would you believe me when I told you he called me once a month to ask my advice on his career?