This is sort of a continuation of my previous post. There I talked about the “missing” studio record that Grateful Dead never made as a follow-up to their classic 1970 albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. The songs that would…
Yearly Archives: 2015
“There were days. . .”: The lost final Grateful Dead studio album
Tagged with: Bob Weir, Days Between, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter
Posted in Grateful Dead, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Grateful Dead, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Jack Straw From Wichita”. .: The Missing Third Album of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty Trilogy
As the “core four” of the remaining members of the Grateful Dead play their final shows this weekend, I want to talk about something that I’ve been curious about for some time now. It all starts in 1970 when the Dead…
Tagged with: American Beauty, Bob Weir, Europe 72, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Skull & Roses, Workingman's Dead
Posted in Grateful Dead, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Grateful Dead, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis
The (Musical) Games We Play: (Musical) Exquisite Corpses and Terry Riley’s “In C”
This past weekend, as part of the MakeMusicNewYork festival, I took part in a interesting “game” entitled Exquisite Corpses. The term refers to a artistic technique invented by the early 20th century surrealists in which players write in turn on…
Tagged with: "In C", Exquisite Corpses, Improvisation, La Monte Young, Minimalism, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley
Posted in Classical, Improvisation, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Classical, Improvisation, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Beauty Is A Rare Thing. . .”: Ornette Coleman 1930 – 2015
It’s a depressing sign of one’s own mortality when you hear that yet another of your musical heroes has passed. Last week, Ornette Coleman, the alto saxophonist, composer and musical revolutionary passed away at the age of 85. As I…
Tagged with: Grateful Dead, Improvisation, Jazz, Ornette Coleman
Posted in Grateful Dead, Improvisation, Jam Band, Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Grateful Dead, Improvisation, Jam Band, Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
A Musical Offering: J.S. Bach’s Crab Cannon
And now for something a little different. . . What we have below is a video that illustrates a cool little musical puzzle from one the greatest musicians ever, J.S. Bach. It’s the first piece from Bach’s “Musical Offering”, a…
Tagged with: Canon, Conterpoint, J.S. Bach
Posted in Classical, Music Appreciation and Analysis, Music Theory
Posted in Classical, Music Appreciation and Analysis, Music Theory
“You Got The Silver. .” : Great Keith Richards Quotes On Music
“I mean, give me a guitar, give me a piano, give me a broom and string, I wouldn’t get bored anywhere.” “I firmly believe if you want to be a guitar player, you better start on acoustic and then graduate…
Tagged with: Blues, Keith Richards, Quotes, Rolling Stones
Posted in Blues, Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Blues, Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Let Me Play The Blues For You”: The Guitar Genius Of B.B. King (1925 – 2015)
After dealing with various health issues during the past few years, the legendary B.B. King passed away last night at his home in Las Vegas. He was 89. I was lucky enough to have seen B.B. King live numerous times.…
Tagged with: B.B King, Blues, blues guitar, Improvisation, T-Bone Walker
Posted in Blues, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Blues, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Happy Mother’s Day: Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried”
Happy Mother’s Day to all. The first thing I remember knowin’ Was a lonesome whistle blownin’ And a young’uns dream of growin’ up to ride On a freight train leavin’ town Not knowin’ where I’m bound And no one could…
Tagged with: Grateful Dead, Mama Tried, Merle Haggard, Mother's Day
Posted in Grateful Dead, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Grateful Dead, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Hot Rats” : Frank Zappa’s Early Jazz Rock Masterpiece
Hot Rats by Frank Zappa. I can honestly say that this was one of the records that had a major impact on my life. I think I was around 12 years old when I was first heard it, an advantage…
Tagged with: guitar, Hot Rats, Ian Underwood, Improvisation, Jazz Rock, Mothers Of Invention, Zappa
Posted in Improvisation, Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Improvisation, Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“All You Need Is Cash: . . : The Rutles – Best Beatles Parody Ever
I went to the doctor the other day. I know that this usually means a decent amount of time in the waiting room so I brought something to read, “You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After The Breakup”…
ManRoy Music 