For those wanting to hear what great songwriters look for in their accompanying musicians/band, take a listen to the deep, Deep, DEEP groove Ry, Nick, and Jim create in "Memphis In The Meantime". Astoundingly great! Then listen to Ry’s little guitar solo in "Lipstick Sunset". Guitar playing just don’t get no better; Exquisitely musical, fantastic tone, and just plain cool! I saw and heard Little Village (the group John, Ry, Nick, and Jim formed after the success of the Bring The Family album. Their single album was a disappointment, for reasons I won’t go into here) perform the song live on a sound stage in Burbank, and I swear to God when Ry went into his solo time stood still; I had an out-of-body experience (that didn’t happen when I saw and heard Jimi Hendrix live in 1968). Ry is the favorite living electric guitarist of a lot of guitar players I know and have known.
Hiatt was given carte blanche in his choice of musicians for the recording his Bring The Family album. He didn’t choose Jeff Beck, Victor Wooten, and Vinnie Colaiuta. ;-)