''Laughing Water'' is a live album by the 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
Jazz Is Dead Jazz Is Dead may refer to
* Jazz Is Dead (band): a Grateful Dead instrumental cover band
* Jazz Is Dead (record label): a Los Angeles record label and recording series
{{Disambiguation ...
. Subtitled ''Wake of the Flood Revisited'', it is a reinterpretation of the Grateful Dead's
1973 album. It was JID's second release, and was recorded in April 1999 at the
Fox Theater Fox Theatre or Fox Theater or Fox Theater Building may refer to:
U.S.
* Fox Tucson Theatre (Tucson, Arizona)
*Fox Theater (Bakersfield, California)
* Fox Theatre (Fullerton, California)
* Fox Theater, Westwood Village (Los Angeles, California)
* Fo ...
in Boulder, Colorado, and
Maritime Hall
The Maritime Hall is a historic 3,000-capacity Auditorium, concert hall in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood that operated from 1995 through 2001 as a popular music venue and nightclub. It was located at 450 Harrison Street (at First St ...
, in San Francisco, California, and issued later that year by
Zebra Records
Zebra Records is an American independent jazz/fusion record label originally based on Encino, Los Angeles. In 1985, it reached a distribution agreement with Enja Records to distribute their music in the United States, including the music of David ...
. The album features guitarist
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 ...
, keyboard player
T. Lavitz, bassist
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 ...
, and drummers
Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein (born April 19, 1953) is an American drummer and music educator. He is best known for his work with the rock bands Winger and Dixie Dregs.
He also played with Fiona, Platypus, the Steve Morse Band, and Jelly Jam. He has also ...
and
Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe (born January 31, 1959), also known as Apt. Q258, is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer but is proficient in other styles. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Bruce Hampton. He was a member of Le ...
, along with guest artists
Vassar Clements
Vassar Carlton Clements (April 25, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and ...
(violin),
Donna Jean Godchaux
Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay (born August 22, 1947) is an American singer who was a member of the Grateful Dead from 1972 until 1979.
Biography
Donna Jean Thatcher was born in Florence, Alabama. Prior to 1970, she had worked as a sessi ...
(vocals),
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), and
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks (born June 8, 1979) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. In 2010, he formed the Tedeschi Trucks Band with his wife, blues sing ...
(slide guitar). (Godchaux and Clements both appeared on ''Wake of the Flood''.)
The album title can be found in a line from the song "Here Comes Sunshine": "Wake of the flood / laughing water / '49 / Get out the pans / don't just stand there dreaming / get out the way / get out the way".
Lyricist
Robert Hunter's notes read: "Remembering the great Vanport, Washington, flood of 1949, living in other people's homes, a family abandoned by father; second grade."
Reception
In a review for
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
, Geoffrey Himes wrote: "There's plenty of juicy melodic material here... guitarist Jimmy Herring... is able to capture both the vocal line and the lead-guitar line and then weave them into something entirely new."
Hilarie Grey, writing for
Jazz Times
''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store.
Coverage
After a decade of growth ...
, stated: "the group... punches up the intricate work of Garcia, Weir and company and sets it spinning in unexpected directions, playing out the original themes and threads... Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this thoroughly non-standard tribute work is the quintet's ability to capture the electricity and emotion of the Dead's grand live improvisations."
A reviewer for
CMJ New Music Report
CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...
commented: "given that the players are consummate professionals, and the Dead's own reputation for experimentation and improvisation, it's a match made in heaven."
In an article for
All About Jazz
''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
, Glenn Astarita wrote: "Fine production, audiophile sound quality, clever arrangements and sagacious ensemble work make ''Laughing Water'' a laudable effort. This one should 'not' disappoint deadheads and serious minded rockers alike... Recommended!!!"
In separate AAJ reviews, Paula Edelstein praised the group's "flawless musicianship and wicked jazz-rock fusion," while Ed Kopp noted that ''Laughing Water'' "manages to capture the rock 'n roll animus of the original. The communal carefree spirit of tie-died counterculturalism lives on in this music."
Track listing
# "Vocal Intro" / "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo" (
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...
,
Robert Hunter) – 6:06
# "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away" (
Keith Godchaux
Keith Richard Godchaux (July 19, 1948 – July 23, 1980) was a pianist best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979.
Biography
Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Concord, California ...
, Robert Hunter) – 5:50
# "Row Jimmy" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter) – 7:53
# "Stella Blue" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter) – 7:07
# "Vocal Intro" / "Here Comes Sunshine" / "Sunshine Jam" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter / Jimmy Herring, Alphonso Johnson, T. Lavitz, Jeff Sipe) – 13:02
# "Eyes of the World" / "Two Sisters" (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter / Alphonso Johnson) – 10:08
# "Weather Report Suite, Part 1" (
Bob Weir
Robert Hall Weir ( ; né Parber, born October 16, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead ...
,
Eric Andersen
Eric Andersen (born February 14, 1943) is an American folk music singer-songwriter, who has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, the Grateful Dead and many others. Early in his career, in the 1960s, he ...
) – 5:26
# "Weather Report Suite, Part 2: Let It Grow" (Bob Weir,
John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow (October 3, 1947February 7, 2018) was an American poet, essayist, cattle rancher, and cyberlibertarian political activist who had been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He was also a lyricist for the ...
) – 7:11
Personnel
*
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 ...
– guitars
*
T. Lavitz – keyboards
*
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
*
Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein (born April 19, 1953) is an American drummer and music educator. He is best known for his work with the rock bands Winger and Dixie Dregs.
He also played with Fiona, Platypus, the Steve Morse Band, and Jelly Jam. He has also ...
– drums (tracks 2, 4, 6, and 7)
*
Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe (born January 31, 1959), also known as Apt. Q258, is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer but is proficient in other styles. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Bruce Hampton. He was a member of Le ...
– drums (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8)
Special guests
*
Vassar Clements
Vassar Carlton Clements (April 25, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American jazz, swing, and bluegrass fiddler. Clements has been dubbed the Father of Hillbilly Jazz, an improvisational style that blends and borrows from swing, hot jazz, and ...
– violin (tracks 1 and 5)
*
Donna Jean Godchaux
Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay (born August 22, 1947) is an American singer who was a member of the Grateful Dead from 1972 until 1979.
Biography
Donna Jean Thatcher was born in Florence, Alabama. Prior to 1970, she had worked as a sessi ...
– vocals on intros to "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo" and "Here Comes Sunshine"
*
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 (track 4)
*
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks (born June 8, 1979) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. In 2010, he formed the Tedeschi Trucks Band with his wife, blues sing ...
– slide guitar (tracks 3 and 5)
References
{{Reflist
1999 live albums
Jazz Is Dead albums