[TI4-1009]

Jon S. posted this on TGP- and it needs to be up here too. Good stuff- particularly the last one.

Trey Anastasio on Dead Reunion Shows: 'I Don't Want to Just Copy Jerry'

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Excerpts:

"I learned so much from seeing those guys – about the feel, the vernacular of the songs. But I never really sat and studied what Jerry actually played, until now."

ooo

Garcia was "one of a kind," Anastasio says. "There are no Jerry Garcias coming down the pike, anymore than there is a Jimi Hendrix or Bob Marley. They are all at the same level – the highest level that you strive to get to as a musician. Me and my friends – we'll all be long dead, people will still be trying to dig into what Jerry Garcia did." Anastasio pauses, then laughs. "Just like I am today."

ooo

Right now, I'm in the thick of it, because I don't have any [other] shows on the horizon, which is a real luxury. I get up really early, when it's still dark. I light a little fire in the fireplace, take my guitar and do a song. Yesterday, I did "Help on the Way" [from 1975's Blues for Allah]. I'll spend a few hours in the morning on it, then do it again later in the day.

ooo

There is a lot more intent put into those lines than people might think. It was not just noodling. You can tell if you listen to three or four different versions. But that "Wheel" riff – what happened after I started dissecting it was I started thinking, "I've heard this before." I realized it sounded like a Django Reinhardt riff – not exactly, but some of the vocabulary, the way he was leaving those passing tones. So I started digging through all of these Django songs: "Wow, I'm sure he was listening to this."

ooo

I have been finding that I've narrowed down my favorite eras to 1974 and 1977. And there's really great stuff for me in 1971, when it was like, 'What's going on here?" It was so unhinged. But if I have to learn some things as a guitar player, I find myself going to either '74 or '77, because from the guitar end, it sounds like someone who has been practicing for eight hours a day. And the band was so tight.

ooo

Then Bob sent me this e-mail: "I'll help ruin your vacation. You can learn these 60 songs." And I wrote back: "These are great. May I be so bold as to add the possibility of 'Casey Jones,' 'Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo,' 'Friend of the Devil,' 'Tennessee Jed,' 'Bertha,' 'Dire Wolf,' 'Sugaree,' 'Candyman,' Dupree's Diamond Blkues,' 'China Doll.'" [laughs] None of those were on his list. And the ones that were were great.

ooo

I still feel like a student. I had an interesting conversation with Mountain Girl [Garcia's second wife, Carolyn] at this Garcia tribute thing [in 2012 for the guitarist's 70th birthday]. She sat down with me in catering and said, "I just want to tell you something, because I know you're a big fan of Jerry's. He got up at 7 in the morning and practiced. He was completely nuts about practicing. This Captain Trips image of himn sitting around, smoking a joint and having the music come out wasn't what I saw. The guy I saw wanted to be the best possible singer, songwriter and guitar player."

ooo

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/fe...NAbXNuLmNvbQ==
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[dleonard]

I thought this was a cool interview, especially the Mountain Girl comment. I was also surprised, and kind of have doubts as to its truth, that he never learned much Jerry stuff.

Does anyone know the lick he's talking about in The Wheel, though? When I listed to the album version again (which I assumed he was talking about) it was just pedal steel.

[williamsaut]

I think Trey's using the word 'wheel' to describe the over the top part at the end of slip knot before the jam, (he's talking about Help Slip at that point). Which does have a very Django Quality to it. Django was in fact one of Jerry's influences as he was for pretty much any serious musician of the jazz bend back in the 50's. Django pretty much blew the American Jazz establishment out of the water when the Hot Club hit the scene. Ironic since it was 30's and 40's American jazz that inspired Django to do what he did in the first place. They sort of fed off each other and came full circle over a generation. I've got a wonderful manouche jazz book that shows all the minor scales they use to get 'that' sound. Pretty interesting stuff, and played wicked fast.

[TI4-1009]

Posted later in that TGP thread:

"The Dead really were unique. A folkie/bluegrasser starts a jug band that morphs into a loose r&b band that turns on to acid and becomes the house band for one of the most anarchistic and socioculturally important scenes of the modern era. They then lasso that thing, whatever it is, and take it on the road and it becomes something like a horse that can do tricks on command but can't be ridden safely. Beautiful, intelligent and powerful, but fun and wild and unpredictable, often at the same time."

The Grateful Dead: "something like a horse that can do tricks on command but can't be ridden safely." Excellent.

[joethepainter]

I think Trey's using the word 'wheel' to describe the over the top part at the end of slip knot before the jam, (he's talking about Help Slip at that point). Which does have a very Django Quality to it. Django was in fact one of Jerry's influences as he was for pretty much any serious musician of the jazz bend back in the 50's. Django pretty much blew the American Jazz establishment out of the water when the Hot Club hit the scene. Ironic since it was 30's and 40's American jazz that inspired Django to do what he did in the first place. They sort of fed off each other and came full circle over a generation. I've got a wonderful manouche jazz book that shows all the minor scales they use to get 'that' sound. Pretty interesting stuff, and played wicked fast.

Actually, Trey was referring to a walkdown riff in 'The Wheel', I believe right before the 'small wheel turnin' line, where he outlines a major tonality with just passing notes, a la Django...
But you have a point, as well...Jerry has stated on more than one occasion how he loved gypsy jazz, and you can definitely hear that in his playing.

[rugger]

Those quoting folks from The Gear Page should properly reference them.

I really like that line he came up with and feel he should be given proper credit.

John in San Diego

[TI4-1009]

Those quoting folks from The Gear Page should properly reference them.

Well sure- here ya go. Helpie Selfie!

-Those

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... ?t=1542224

[tcsned]

I have to say, as a non Phish fan, I love everything Trey is saying about approaching this event. It's becoming more apparent that he is absolutely the right person for this gig. I'm still hoping to get tickets and make it to Chicago.

[lovetoboogie]

check out what Weir has to say about the guitar spot....

http://youtu.be/G9qQ7HN9TlA

[tcsned]

check out what Weir has to say about the guitar spot....

http://youtu.be/G9qQ7HN9TlA

I saw that yesterday. Isn't that the guy Vic knows from CNBC? I think he said that he's sat in with his band.