Blues for Allah [Live]

Joe Gallant | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• Original Release Date: May 21, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Knitting Factory
• ASIN: B000002097
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,927 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Invocation

2. Help On The Way/Slipknot!/Franklin's Tower

3. King Solomon's Marbles

4. The Music Never Stopped

5. Crazy Fingers

6. Sage And Spirit

7. Prelude

8. Blues For Allah

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by Jim Grandinetti, August 10, 1999

By 

James Grandinetti (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blues for Allah (Audio CD)

The Blues For Allah Project by Joe Gallant & Illuminati provides Deadheads an alternative style of music to hear one of the Dead's most intricate albums. A fusion of jazz & louge-music (for lack of a better genre), Gallant and his supporting cast perform live from New York City, and infuse the lyrics of Garcia & Hunter into the mystical music of Blues For Allah. The Help/Slip/Franklin that opens sets the tone for the entire project with an amazing vocal range, and excellent backing horns. A must-hear for Deadheads.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great musical moments wasted with those annoying singers!, April 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blues for Allah (Audio CD)

Beautiful instrumental parts (my favorite- "Sage and Spirit") but like other JOE GALLANT "projects" the whole thing falls short with inferior singers. I know the GRATEFUL DEAD were no beauties in the singing department either, but the whiney, irritating singing really hurt the overall effect of these recordings (more damage done than any DEAD recording during their thirty year history). Example- "Blues For Allah" has some interesting musical passages with obviously talented artists UNTIL the singing unfortunately kills the mood. Worth a listen, but don't say I didn't warn you about the singers.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best Grateful Dead tributes, July 17, 2006

By 

The Delite Rancher (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blues for Allah (Audio CD)

A good tribute pays homage to the parent while simultaneously making a fresh interpretation. Along these lines, the "Blues for Allah Project" is one of the most accomplished and ambitious Grateful Dead tributes. This is a jazz version of the classic Grateful Dead album. Recorded at the famous Knitting Factory, this tribute effectively captured the energy and enthusiasm of the live show while delivering studio sound quality. Given the subject matter, the mood ranges from jubilation to dark mysticism. This recording has a surprising amount of integrity; this is no stoner effort, Joe Gallant assembled a serious, world class band. In the other reviews, the singing has been criticized. I found the singing excellent; the female vocalist's style is similar to Billie Holiday. When a listener is accustomed to rock singing, hearing the voice of somebody who's formally trained can initially be confounding. Furthermore, there is no lounge or fusion music here. While the singers may add a tad of croonerism, Joe's band plays straight jazz -with the exception of the twenty minute title track when the band goes avant-garde. If the listener doesn't appreciate real jazz, this disc will probably never get more than a single listen; such Deadheads should stick with the more accessible "Swingin' to the Dead." Those who have a place in their hearts for both jazz and the Dead will cherish the "Blues for Allah Project" as one of the best Grateful Dead tributes.