Jazz is Dead is an instrumental

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

cover band that interprets classic Dead songs with jazz influences. The group is notable in featuring veterans of jazz and jazz fusion ensembles. The group's composition has changed over time, and T Lavitz was the band's only constant member until they reformed in 2015 (five years after Lavitz's death).

Personnel

Members

;Current members *

Alphonso Johnson Alphonso Johnson (born February 2, 1951) is an American jazz bassist active since the early 1970s. Johnson was a member of the jazz fusion group Weather Report from 1973 to 1975, and has performed and recorded with numerous high-profile rock and ...

- bass (1998-2001, 2015–2016, 2023) *

Steve Kimock Steve Kimock (born October 5, 1955) is an American rock guitarist. He was a member of San Francisco Bay Area bands Zero and KVHW. His tone and some of his playing approach has been compared to Jerry Garcia, who was a friend of his, and he has ...

- guitar (2023) * Bobby Lee Rodgers - guitar (2023) * Pete Lavezzoli - drums (2023) ;Former members * Billy Cobham - drums (1998-1999) *

Jimmy Herring Jimmy Herring (born January 22, 1962) is the lead guitarist for the band Widespread Panic. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Jazz Is Dead and has played with The Allman Brothers Band, Project Z, Derek Trucks Band, Phil Lesh a ...

- lead guitar (1998-2001) * T Lavitz - keyboards (1998-2006) * Jeff Sipe - drums (1999-2006) * Kenny Gradney - bass (2001-2002) * Dave Livolsi - bass (2002-2006) * Rod Morgenstein - drums (1999-2006, 2015–2016) * Jeff Pevar - lead guitar (2001-2006, 2015–2016) * Tom Constanten - keyboards (2015–2016) * Chris Smith - keyboards (2015–2016)

Lineups

The band's original line-up consisted of: *Guitar:

(

Aquarium Rescue Unit Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit is a jazz fusion group founded by Col. Bruce Hampton. The band gained popularity in the Atlanta club scene in the early 1990s and went on to tour with the first H.O.R.D.E. Tour. During their formati ...

, Frogwings, Widespread Panic) *Bass:

( Weather Report) *Drums: Billy Cobham ( Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra) *Keyboards: T Lavitz ( Dixie Dregs) In 1999 Billy Cobham was replaced by Dixie Dregs and Winger drummer Rod Morgenstein and Phil Lesh and Friends drummer Jeff Sipe. In 2001, guitarist Jeff Pevar ( Ray Charles,

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances that featured expressive body movements. Most of his best known singles were recordings of son ...

Crosby Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member, ...

) replaced

Little Feat Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving ...

's Kenny Gradney also played bass with the group at some shows. The group went through a few more line-up changes (mostly bassists and drummers) over the years including the addition of Dave Livolsi on bass in 2002 and the reinstated dual-drummer line-up of Sipe and Morgenstein in 2006. In March 2006 the band set out for a month-long tour featuring the music of '' Blues for Allah'' to coincide with its 30th anniversary. In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Grateful Dead, Jazz Is Dead reformed for several shows in August and September 2015. The lineup will include

on bass, Jeff Pevar on guitar, drummer Rod Morgenstein, keyboardist Chris Smith and one-time Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten. In 2015 the group released the latest JID CD ''

Grateful Jazz ''Grateful Jazz'' is the fourth album by the instrumental Grateful Dead cover band Jazz Is Dead. The original tracks were recorded in 2004 in Hartford, Connecticut, and were then set aside. In anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of the Gratefu ...

'', produced and arranged by Pevar, featuring T Lavitz, Jeff Pevar, Rod Morgenstein, David Livolsi and special guests, Alphonso Johnson, Luis Conte, Bill Evans, Jerry Goodman, Bill Holloman and Howard Levy. This CD serves as a swan song to the late T Lavitz. More info at http://pevar.com/music/jazzisdead-gratefuljazz/ In 2023 the band celebrated its 25th anniversary with a lineup of Alphonso Johnson, Steve Kimock, Bobby Lee Rodgers, and Pete Lavezzoli.

Discography

*1998 ''

Blue Light Rain ''Blue Light Rain'' is the debut album by the instrumental Grateful Dead cover band Jazz Is Dead (band), Jazz Is Dead. It was released in 1998 by Zebra Records. The album features guitarist Jimmy Herring, keyboard player T. Lavitz, bassist Alphonso ...

'' *1999 '' Laughing Water'' *2001 '' Great Sky River'' *2015 ''

References

* * * *

External links

nbsp;– Interview with Billy Cobham about the origins and approach of Jazz is Dead

nbsp;– Interview with Jeff Pevar about Jazz is Dead * Am.html" ;"title=" – Allmusic Guide's review of Jazz is Dead releases {{Authority control American rock music groups Cover bands]"> – Allmusic Guide's review of Jazz is Dead releases {{Authority control American rock music groups Cover bands]nbsp;– Allmusic Guide's review of Jazz is Dead releases {{Authority control American rock music groups Cover bands