I am a hack at playing jazz but I love doing it. I'm better at Django-style swing stuff but I was playing in an acoustic group that did some more modern jazz stuff - a lot of Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and this Coltrane tune. It really kicked my ass. I didn't really understand it nor did I spend the time breaking it apart and analyzing it. This video was making the rounds on Facebook last week and got me inspired to try this tune again. I dunno if I'm any more successful at playing it than I was 20 years ago but I think I finally understand it. Coltrane was a genius. Not really Dead related but a great look at improv.
Thanks for posting that. I absolutely love jazz and my wife thinks I’m about 10 yrs older than I am cause it’s all I listen to as of late. I am for ever a Jerry and Grateful Dead fan but jazz guitar is so intriguing to me because it’s so difficult for me to try and be fluent and be able to improvise.
Our local jazz station here in the Chicago area, 90.9fm wdcb is an all jazz station I listen to religiously. Best of all has a Grateful Dead hour every Monday night hosted by David Gans. Win Win!