Customer Reviews

Laughing Water

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A a true music fan, I only reserve five stars for a truley amazing album, Laughing Water is no exception. JID brings new life to these GD tunes. The band is extremley tight and go off on these tunes. Jimi Herring is unreal, his solos tear the roof off each song. Derek Trucks makes an appearance on Row Jimmy and Here Comes Sunshine, his solos are so intense I soil myself everytime I hear them. The final couple of minutes of Row Jimmy where Jimmi and Derek trade solos is probabally the most intense thing I have ever listened to in my life. T Lavitz is amazing on the keys and Alfonso Johnson keeps the bass lines tight and interesting. Jeff Sipe and Rod Morgenstien are sick drummers who add a whole new dimension to these Dead songs. On top of all this the whole album is live which demonstrates just how nasty this band is. Buy this CD, I promise that you will not regret it, and if you get a chance to see them live GO! , they put on a great show.

If you like jazz, particularly fusion, or if you`re a Deadhead, rabid or casual, this CD is for you. Stunning instrutmental versions of the Dead`s Wake of the Flood album, highlighted by Jimmy Herring`s otherworldly guitar licks, Alphonso Johnson`s bass groove, the keyboards of T.Lavitz and the drums of Rod Morgenstein and Jeff Sipe, create a aural delight.

First off the players, boasting impressive pedigrees, show that these are no hacks doing one off covers. Jimmy Herring`s resume is virtual tour of who`s who in the Jam band world, having been a member of the eclectic Aquarium Rescue Unit with Col.Bruce Hampton, touring with the Allman Brothers Band, and soon to be touring with Phil and Phriends, his playing can at times threaten to change everything you thought you knew about guitar playing. Alphonso Johnson has been involved with Weather Report and Santana, T.Lavitz who was a member of fusion pioneers Dixie Dregs, Widespread Panic and Starship, and Rod Morgenstein, also of the Dregs, and Jeff Sipe, a member of ARU and Leftover Salmon.

There are also guests Vassar Clements violin God, one time Dead back up vocalist Donna Godchaux, guitarist Steve Kimock, who makes an explosive duo with Jimmy, and present ABB member and guitar jedi, Derek Trucks.

Then the music. Taking one of the Dead`s more explorative albums, JID takes it to an even higher level, showing that when take incredible music, add extroadinary musicians, it can create a masterpiece that can warp your mind. This just proves that music is music, and in the right hands even wonderful music can create something equally beautiful.

This should also serve to whet your appetite for their new soon to released project for their upcoming tour, where they will be doing acoustic versions of two more classic CD`s in the Dead canon Workingman`s Dead and American Beauty. What a live set that would be.

It seems when people cover the Dead they always try to sound to true to the original... that's not what I consider creative. But when a group of hardcore jammers like Jazz is Dead play they put a new spin on things. JiD play tunes with their own interpretations... they know it is futile to try and match the magic that Jerry, Phil, Bobby, et al put forth on stage, so they make the music their own. It's awesome. The hightlights include "Row Jimmy" "Eyes of the World" and a killer "Weather Report Suite"

Having seen Jazz is Dead live just one week ago, I have to say this is an excellent representation of what they do when they perform. A bit dissapointed that veteran drummer Billy Cobham has left, I am satisfied with the two new guys, Sipe and Morgenstein.

The CD starts off with all time fave,Half-step Mississipi Uptown Toodeloo. It's classic Dead songs like that and Row Jimmy which are revamped to a new life by young hot shot guitarist Derek Trucks, and of course, ARU's mindblowing guitarist, Jimmy Herring. Everyone has to love this guy. They have to. He has been around for a while and has the experience to make his guitar sing and harmonize.

Eyes of the World, another Dead classic, is redone into such an excellent jazz song. When the Dead played it, it was already extremely jazzy, but now with the precision and chops of Alfonso Johnson and Herring, it can exhibit the talent of such a great band as Jazz is Dead.

And of course, Weather Report Suite, Bob Weir's trademark Wake of the Flood masterpiece is executed with such brilliance, it excites any musician, let alone listener while listening.

My only gripe is that this band which is hyped as "America's premiere jam band" does not really jam on this cd. Yet it was recorded live, it seems as the tracks were chopped and remastered for some stupide studio quality sound. Jazz is Dead can jam like some sh*t, but here they are mainly soloing. I just wish they could be recognized what they truly do really well, and that's jam.

Not being a GD fan but rather a fusion fan and admirer of the members' respective bands and legendary status, I found this to be a very good CD that will expose GD fans to a much higher standard of musicianship. Anyone who does not acknowledge the GD's amazingly successful career and touring draw would be someone who cannot judge the facts. I do not want to be perceived as being disrespectful of the Greatful Dead, but this is music of another standard. Having seen this new lineup: (Rod Morganstein (Dixie Dregs/Winger/Rudess-Morganstein Project) and Jeff Sipe aka Apartment Q258 (Aquarium Rescue Unit/Col. Bruce Hampton/Jonas Hellborg) as dueling drummers and replacing Billy Cobham who is regarded as being one of the top drummers of all time and on this release, Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit/Col. Bruce Hampton/Allman Bros), Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report/Widespread Panic/Bruce Hornsby, T. Lavitz (Dixie Dregs cofounder/Jefferson Starship, Nils Lofgren/Mothers Finest and here ya go GD trivialists: the almost GD keyboard player (2nd choice for the seat, they wanted vocals too and chose Vince Welnick (Tubes))in Chicago on 8/14/99, it is only getting better ! This band has become a very aggressive fusion powerhouse. The band's more aggressive sound is basically due to the difference the 2 drummers make, Billy Cobham yields a smoother, more mature feel to the projects in which he plays... not better, just different.

I thought it a little out of place to see the GD "dazed dance" being done to this format, but I was impressed by the GD fans adaptability. I think im my case it is an advantage to not know the original tunes, but I also could understand that some GD fans might feel the memory being blaspheamed and might not understand the interpretations.

My recommendations, like the Dead or not, is buy this CD with an open mind and give it a spin. If you like it, make sure to check out the member's respective bands... we're talking about some of the best musicans around and they each,(with the exception of Sipe and Herring, although easily within the same league) have a multi-decade track record of being involved with the evolution of progressive music. If you have the opportunity to talk with them as I have, they are nice guys to boot, lacking any trace of the ego-fest that others in this genre are known for !

Simply a great contribution to the gods of good ol Rock N' Roll. The artist are phenomenal, and to hear T Lavitz jam like I knew he could. He belongs to two great bands,(Jazz is Dead, & Widespread Panic). Bravo to Jimmy and the rest of te boys on another job well done... Can't waite for the next edition

Simply put, this is the best Grateful Dead cover. To me, it's
even better than most Dead recordings. Alphonso Johnsons bass
lines on "Row Jimmy" are woth purchasing this cd.

Aside from Van Goh's Water Lillies, Laughing Water. This is a great CD. Just pop it in and push play, this CD will carry you away to a great place where music is fluid and the beats roll on. Jimmy Hering has got mad chops, and he really shows us his stuff here. T Lavits makes the hammond sing like the late Gerry. The bass player for JID (his name excapes me at the moment) has a great solo in one of the songs that makes you stand-up and wonder why the dead never had a bassist that good. This album is a definate must have, 4 huge stars.

I love Jimmy Herring and Alphonso Johnson, both killer players. But this album is pretty lame. They try and play a bunch of Dead ballads and it's kind of cheesy. Get "Blue Light Rain" instead, that one is sweet. Especially the "Blues for Alla Medley," face-melting.

If you're a jazz fan and wonder if your Deadhead pals just might be on to something, check this out. I suspect you'll find it's decent fusion but won't make a believer out of you. If you're a Dead fan and wonder how this measures up, I think you'll again realize that, once you've tasted the ecstacy of Garcia's genius, you can never be truly satisfied with anything else, let alone faux-Dead. It will only leave you thirsting for the real stuff. Jimmy Herring is a very fine fusion guitarist with a genuine appreciation for the Master, but if you listen to his solos and then listen to the way Garcia handled the same tunes, you'll notice that Garcia could do more emotionally with six notes than Herring can do with all his impressive runs. In fact, that's the major drawback right there; the Dead at their best are intensely emotional, while this is melodic, technically proficient, smooth --and cold. It's not their fault; no one can raise the Dead. Sorry.