Dark Star: The Music Of The Grateful Dead

David Murray | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 1996)
• Original Release Date: June 11, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astor Place Records
• ASIN: B000005EGI
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,741 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #89 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Avant-Garde

Track Listings

1. Shakedown Street

2. Samson and Delilah

3. Estimated Prophet

4. Dark Star

5. China Doll

6. One More Saturday Night

7. Shoulda Had Been Me

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling!, January 30, 2002

By 

Aaron Gangross (Here and There) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Star: The Music Of The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

This was the first actual jazz CD I ever bought. Initially, it was the Dead connection that convinced me to buy it, but what a band Murray put together! As someone who suffered through high school band, this CD is particularly entertaining. Murray and the other wind players break every rule I was taught (intentionally overblowing notes, for example). Shakedown and Samson are rather wild, Estimated Prophet sounds almost sinister, and China Doll and Dark Star are beautiful. The final track is a duet with the Dead's Bob Weir on guitar. I have never heard anyone play a sax like David Murray. He's one of the few people who can take an instrument and create a distinctive, instantly identifiable sound. After five years, I still haven't gotten tired of this. Play it often and LOUD.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dave Murry gives his jazz interpritations of Classic Dead!!, March 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark Star: The Music Of The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

Wigged at points, sad and insightful at others, jazz genius and long time friend of the Dead has created a jazz classic that dead fans should all Love!!! Special Guest appearence by Bob Wier. END

10 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than the others at least, January 14, 2000

By 

Pharoah S. Wail (Inner Space) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dark Star: The Music Of The Grateful Dead (Audio CD)

I would place this version of "Dead-as-jazz" higher than all the others that are out there but I don't think it's going to blow anyone away, or get too many repeated listentings over time. Compared to the derivative and ultimately uninspired jazz readings that JAZZ IS DEAD gives GRATEFUL DEAD songs this cd is fantastic, but that's only because JAZZ IS DEAD's cds are so dull.

The Dead got weirder, darker, and prettier than this, and so does DAVID MURRAY in his other other musical adventures so this really isn't a great example of either groups. Actually though, if David himself took more of the solos, this cd would be much better than it is. It's too bad that the best musician in this band lays out so much of the time.

If you want to hear "David do Dead", get yourself a copy of the Dead's 9/22/93 with his guest spot. His playing is inspired and he, Phil, and Bobby give stand-out late-years performances (beats anything on this cd), especially during ESTIMATED PROPHET, DARK STAR, SPACE, and WHARF RAT. Jerry's playing is off most of the night though so don't expect him to dazzle you in any way, beyond vocally on Wharf Rat.