CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Great Sky River

by: Jazz Is Dead

Release Date July 31, 2001
I'm not what you would call a hard core Dead Head. I like most of what the Dead put out but not everything. Same is true for Jazz - I like a lot of jazz, including some electronic jazz, but not everthing. The title is a little misleading because it's not what I would call jazz per se, but it does have those kind of overtones. Regardless, there is just no way escaping the dynamic performances of the musicians and the way they have interpreted and restructured the selected Grateful Dead tunes. If you have familiarity with the Dead and want to see how another group of first rate musicians redefine the songs in a "jazzy," instrumental interpretation, I'd really recommend this disc. It heightens your appreciation of what these guys are doing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Laughing Water

by: Jazz Is Dead

Release Date July 20, 1999
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.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Blue Light Rain

by: Jazz Is Dead

Release Date June 09, 1998
Amazon consumers almost always dismiss and vote down negative reviews, but there needs to be some balanced feedback on "Blue Light Rain." Jazz Is Dead plays Grateful Dead style background music. This music is bland, boring and uninspiring; this group does little justice to the Grateful Dead. I'm not coming from a fanatical "I'm a Grateful zealot and nobody can do the Grateful Dead like the Dead" point of view. Far from it, I believe that a good tribute pays homage to the parent while simultaneously making a fresh interpretation. There is no innovation here, despite the talented and otherwise accomplished musicians. Indeed, Jazz is Dead is the ultimate example of how a group can be less than the sum total of its parts. On a Friday night, any party ... Read More: