Jazz Is Dead to Celebrate 25th Anniversary with Bicoastal Tour

So, no Herring this run?

Pete Lavezzoli drums

Bobby Lee Rodgers guitar

This band could be interesting, just for the fact that it might not sound very similar to the GD. I think it will depend on how the guitars gel and the guitarists interplay. 

"The acclaimed All-Star instrumental ensemble, famous for interpretations of classic Grateful Dead songs with jazz influences, returns in 2023 to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Co-founder Alphonso Johnson will be joined by Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli & Bobby Lee Rodgers, performing Grateful Dead’s ‘Wake of The Flood’ marking it’s 50th Anniversary, in addition to other beloved selections. Jazz Is Dead XXV ‘reunites’ two greats! Steve Kimock & Alphonso Johnson, who together in heavyweight post-Garcia Grateful Dead offshoot The Other Ones together with Bob Weir, commanded the instrumental prowess of that band.

Formed in 1998 by bassist Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report, Santana, Bobby & The Midnites, The Other Ones), drummer Billy Cobham (Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bobby & The Midnites), keyboardist T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs) & guitarist Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Widespread Panic), with drummers Rod Morgenstern (Dixie Dregs) & Jeff Sipe (Leftover Salmon) replacing Cobham in 1999, and guitarist Jeff Pevar (CSN, David Crosby CPR, Phil Lesh & Friends) replacing Herring in 2000, recorded 3 acclaimed albums, the second of which ‘Laughing Water’ in 1999 was in fact an instrumental ‘Wake of The Flood’ reinterpretation – so there is precedent. That album also featured Derek Trucks, Donna Jean Godchaux & Vassar Clements."

https://www.palladiumtimessquare.com/event/jazz-is-dead/

I saw the original band with Billy Cobham, and then a year or two later with Jeff Sipe on drums. While Billy is jazz drummer extraordinaire, he seemed to be the leader of the group and made it more of a showcase for individual musicianship, while, with Sipe, they were a full-on 'jamband', with longer song stretches and sets, and had more of a looseness that suited GD music.

Funny how they played a near-full 1200 capacity theater with Cobham, but only got a few hundred at a club with Sipe.

First dead project i've been interested in years. 

tour kicks off right up the street.

this is on the radar

If you like Kimock and Herring.....Ray White was a no-show for this KVHW gig and Jazz-is-Dead opened, so Jimmy Herring sat in for the entire show. I think Billy Cobham was in the band (Jazz is Dead) then. 

KVHW Live at Phoenix Theater, Petaluma on 04-30-1999

https://archive.org/details/kvhw1999-04-30.shnf

Also, Alphonso Johnson played in a version of SKB about twenty years ago which was pretty good. I think it was just after they played together in Other Ones.

The trek will begin on Jan. 10 in Capistrano, Calif., with a one-night stand at The Coach House. From there, the ensemble will pack up and head to The Canyon’s Montclair, Calif., location on Jan. 11 before hopping over to Agoura, Calif., to follow up at the venue’s other site the next night. 

The tour will continue in the Grateful Dead’s hometown of San Francisco, where they’ll play a gig at The Regency Ballroom on Jan. 13. Next, they’ll jump over to Colorado for a concert at Denver’s The Paramount on Jan. 15, before following up Jan. 17 in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theatre. Then, the ensemble will play a handful of Midwest dates before landing on the East Coast on Jan. 22 for a performance at Cleveland’s The Agoura.

Jazz Is Dead will continue their tour in Boston on Jan. 24 before heading to The Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa., on Jan. 25. Next up, they’ll play at Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, N.Y., on Jan. 26, before arriving in The Big Apple for a one-night stand at The Palladium at Times Square on Jan. 27. 

The tour’s final stop lands on Jan. 28 and will see the band play at the Penns Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa. For those interested in attending any of Jazz Is Dead’s forthcoming performances, ticket information will be released shortly.

https://jambands.com/news/2022/08/01/jazz-is-dead-to-celebrate-25th-anni...

Hometown Des Plaines, IL representin', Yo! LOL. That old movie house had sat/been neglected for years but was recently redone and upgraded for concerts. It was the Friday night hangout when I was in Middle School/Jr High and the big winning lottery ticket was just sold in that NW Chicagoland suburb too. 

> the ensemble will play a handful of Midwest dates before landing on the East Coast on Jan. 22 for a performance at Cleveland’s The Agoura.

I wasn't aware they had moved Cleveland to the east coast.

When you are in California, Chicago is the east.

When you are in Boston, Denver is the west.  Go figure.