What's the deal with Jerry?

[studiorecluse]

Hi Folks.
This is a serious question, and I am not tweaking anyone, OK?
What is the deal with Jerry Garcia?  I have heard his name a million times, but when I listen to the Dead I just don't get it.  With guys like  Larry Carton, Jan Akkerman, and Eric Johnson around, I have a pretty high threshold for a guitar hero... so I need a little guidance.  You guys tell me the best examples of Jerry's playing- song and album, and I'll go listen.
I'm serious, here's your chance to win a convert.
Thanks and Happy New Year.
Cary

[dela217]

Cary, I am with you too.  I have even tried to convert myself.  I figured that there is such a buzz about Garcia that there must be something to it.  I have had a dead head friend give me his best shot, but no go.  I even bought a couple of CD's and tried that.  Nothing.  Oh well, at least I tried.  I respect anyone that likes it and understand what they feel, but I don't feel the same thing.  It's not for everybody.
 
Michael

[kmh364]

Exactly! You either get it or you don't...nothing personal intended here.
 
It's just like the question about the how's/why's of Harley-Davidson:
If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

[zuperdog]

What's the deal with Yngwie?
 
I like the Harley analogy. An explanation or kick in the right direction aint gonna do it.
 
We don't all have to like the same guitarists, do we? Music is enough!
 
Cheers, too-
Rob

[studiorecluse]

True, but haven't there been artists whom you didn't get until someone pointed out what was going on or special?  I have seen people not get Michael Hedges until I pointed out what he was doing, or played a video.  Only then did these people see his brilliance and become fans.
 
This was an invitation to point out examples of Jerry at his finest.

[flaxattack]

hard to point to one thing cary....
depends on your tastes... some love him- cough cough- same dont like him- but no one denies he was one talented muthaf****r
theres
rockin jerry
folk jerry
acid jerry
jazz jerry
reggae jerry
blues jerry
bluegrass jerry
dylan cover jerry
beatles cover jerry
stones cover jerry
who cover jerry
buddy holly cover jerry
creedance cover jerry
to name a few,,,
then theres
guitar jerry
banjo jerry
bass jerry
pedal steel jerry
 
maybe its just that he could play anything?and good
you can email me what you like- as i say to everyone- i can find at least 1 tune you will like....
:-)

[flaxattack]

whats the first thing a deadhead says when he runs out of drugs?
 
this band sucks!
hahhahahahahaha

[jazzyvee]

I know what you mean, I listened to some Garcia/Dead, I thought for the very first time about 2 weeks ago. It didn't do a lot for me I must say, although I vaguely recognised some bits of it.
 
The thing is listening to some types of music for the first time way out of its hey day can be an unfair comparison because its out of the context of today's music and your ears are tuned differently.
 
I think that to get it you really have to listen to it alongside other stuff of the day to really check it's brilliance or otherwise.
 
I felt the same when I listened to Dark Side of the moon about 15 years ago. I didn't get the point and still don't, same with Zeppelin.
 
However I've seen live footage of Floyd and Zeppelin from that time and apart from the music I have to say their playing is worthy of their status. So I think not just listening to what they play on record but seeing or learning how they do what they do is part of the the real key to their brilliance, or otherwise.
 
Forgive me for saying this.... ;-) I really can't take Country Music...full stop.
 
However whenever I've been at an outdoor festival or seen country music players doing their stuff on tv etc I've been well impressed by their musicianship. Whilst I respect their abilities as musicians, I just can't take the music man......
 
Like some others have said, its good that we don't all like the same music but my point is, you don't have to like a particular genre of music to be able to see the brilliance of its musicians.  
 
I do intend to listen to more Dead stuff when I meet someone who has more than 3 tracks and see for myself what the fuss is about.
 
Another thing about Gerry is that he is part of the Alembic story and hence... we have our beloved instruments :-)
 
Enjoy the day
Jazzyvee

[flaxattack]

the main problem with the dead is that the studio was NOT their favorite place to record
so i would suggest going for live
 
here is some good stuff imho
garcia- reflections
grateful dead- american beauty-live without a net- first double live-in the dark-dozin at the knick
bill graham said it best
0n any given night- the grateful dead was the best r/r band in the world-  
the live experience was their forte....
like jazzy - i dont get led zep either....
and lighting a doob before never hurt anyone-lol

[pas]

Let me preface this by saying I love Jerry & the Dead.  That being said, in my humble opinion, you can listen to tons of Jerry/Dead & still not get it.  
 
My point being simply: you had to be there & see 'em live.  The older I get, the more I tend to feel this way about music in general.  
 
Recordings are fine - sort of like a snapshot of a moment in time...but live music is what it's all about...for me anyway.
 
Happy New Year to one & all...

[kmh364]

Wow, I must REALLY be screwed-up: I love the Dead, Jerry, Zep, Yngwie, Michael Hedges, Akkerman, E. Johnson, Larry Carlton, et al!
 
Each has something to say via their respective instruments (several instruments, including vocals for Jerry in particular) that speak to me in some way or another...and to me, it's all good.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin
 
Happy New Year!

[richbass939]

I've always liked a wide variety of music.  I like many traditional types of music and some more avant garde types.  I regularly listen to  (and play along with) music that is not my favorite genre just to hear what and how they are playing.  I believe there is a lot I can learn from all different kinds.  If I had $1 (USD) for every time I heard What's that crap? I'd add a new Series II to my stable.
Rich

[lbpesq]

Jazzyvee:
 
Try Live/Dead.  Many Deadheads agree that this double album captured the live experience the best.  As a bonus, it was recorded by none other than Ron W. hisself!  As you listen, keep in mind that Jerry is improvising 98% of the time.  (On later Dead this probably went down to about 85% of the time).  One of the most fascinating aspects of the Dead and Jerry's music in general was their continual efforts to let it all hang out and play on the edge, so to speak.  One could see the Dead do the same song 20 times (and I did, and then some) and each time will be different.  I would also suggest listening to some of the work Jerry did with David Grisman.  This really showcases his acoustic technique.  The bottom line, at least for me, is that Jerry's playing & vocals touched my soul.
 
Jeff:  Bass Jerry??!!  And the Graham quote was They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do.   It was painted on the side of Winterland after it closed and stood there as a testament for several years until the bastiches tore the old girl down.  What a place, I melted into the floor there many times!
 
Bill, tgo

[David Houck]

Let's get back to the original challenge:
 
the best examples of Jerry's playing
- song and album

[crgaston]

As far as dvd's go, watch the first View from the Vault, the Pittsburg one with the Kentucky bonus footage.  From about Let it Grow, the last song of the first set, through to the drum solo and you will get a pretty good idea of what Jerry can do.  Phil is also smoking on this.  After the drum solo, one of the drummers (Mickey Hart) gets on the Beam, which is an 8 foot long aluminum I-beam strung with 12 piano strings and sporting a giant humbucker.  He plays it with piece of metal pipe and runs it through all kinds of delay effects.  The bonus footage is choice, to, the jam coming ouy of He's Gone especially.