Jazz Is Dead

Tribute albums became extremely popular within the 1990s, however the people of Jazz Is Deceased sidestepped the accompanying clichés of all tributes making use of their 1998 Grateful Deceased concept Compact disc Blue Light Rainfall. The four jazz fusion veterans — bassist Alphonso Johnson (Climate Record), keyboardist T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs), guitarist Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Recovery Device), and drummer Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra) — performed instrumental variations of Grateful Deceased classics, simultaneously showing the impact of jazz fusion for the Deceased as well as the quartet’s playing and organizing prowess. Cobham, Johnson, and Lavitz had been known goods through their prior music group affiliations, but Blue Light Rainfall became a coming-out party for Herring. A new player of immense skill who got subbed for Dickey Betts within the Allman Brothers, Herring was non-etheless underrated with the comparative anonymity of his major groups, Aquarium Recovery Device and Frogwings. On paths like “Crazy Fingertips,” “Dark Superstar,” as well as the shutting, live “Blues for Allah Medley,” Herring soars over Lavitz’s tasty key pad work as well as the rhythmic muscle tissue of Johnson and Cobham. Because of their next Compact disc, Jazz Is Deceased thought we would interpret the Pleased Dead’s 1973 Wake from the Overflow record in its entirety. Cobham’s departure opened up the door for just two drummers — Jeff Sipe and Fishing rod Morgenstein — who performed separately and jointly through the four evenings of documenting. Vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux reprised a few of her first vocal intros for the Deceased; visitor violinist Vassar Clements (“Sunlight Jam”) and guitarists Steve Kimock (“Stella Blue”) and Derek Vehicles (“Row Jimmy”) add icing for some from the Dead’s most jazz-influenced parts. Using a near-endless Grateful Deceased discography available, Jazz Is Deceased has the skill and material to be among the world’s most widely used and initial cover bands.