13 years in Austin until I moved up to this golf retirement village two years ago (Williamsburg VA)
Saw JV as often as possible...usually with the Tilt a Whirl Band.
I remember the T-Bird days. They used to hit JC Dobbs in Philly a couple times a year. Yeah he was great then and maybe more "technical" and "tight" than now.
But I like his later stuff better. He plays a little bit out, a little bit off the heart of the beat, surprises me but always sounds Mr. Natural and unforced...kind of reminds me of Theolonious Monk.
A lot of the live festival footage I have seen lately doesn't do the man justice. I like this laid back, jamming cut from NAMM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VjX47zOmBxg
That grabs some of the feel I heard down by the lake in A-Town with a wildly appreciative crowd of over-40 party time JV lovers...sort of the house band for that group, among which I count myself.
As far as I am concerned, he is one of the greats alive today. Just about my favorite geetar slanger.
Joe