Phil Lesh gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at just how much forethought goes into jamming in the latest Terrapin Clubhouse Session featuring Greensky Bluegrass guitarist Dave Bruzza.
At the start of the video, Lesh sits down with his band comprised of Stu Allen, Holly Bowling, Alex Koford, and his son Grahame Lesh to map out the musical plan. Unlike previous Clubhouse Session episodes, the video includes extended, intimate footage of the band’s conversations, offering fans a unique look at the recording (and jamming) process. In the discussion, Lesh also offers new insight into the ways Grateful Dead songs developed organically over time, changing keys and tempos as the band revisited them night after night onstage.
“I’ve been fascinated by the history and evolution of the songs and sequences that the Grateful Dead performed back in the day,” the 84-year-old bassist explains to his much younger bandmates. “These songs have changed: the key has changed, the tempo has changed, and sometimes even the grooves have changed. I want to explore that and basically start at the beginning and retrace the evolution of these songs and sequences through time, at least part way.”
Lesh goes on to give an example of how one song changed over time, explaining that the Dead shifted the key of “China Cat Sunflower” up so that it would be easier for Jerry Garcia to sing. The song was originally in the key of E and segued nicely into “The Eleven”, which is also in the key of E. It was after the band raised it to the key of G that it was paired with its longtime partner, “I Know You Rider”, resulting in the now-traditional sequence dubbed “China” > “Rider”.
After thoroughly discussing the complex time changes of “The Eleven”, the band jams the vintage pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” > “The Eleven”. The video then cuts to a similarly enlightening control room discussion before “New Potato Caboose” > “Born Cross Eyed”.
The episode ends on a high note with an appearance by Dave Bruzza, who joins Lesh and his friends for the ironically upbeat “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” and an acapella “We Bid You Goodnight”.
Watch Phil Lesh break down Grateful Dead arrangements and jam with Dave Bruzza in Terrapin Clubhouse Sessions Episode 5 below.
Lesh is gearing up to headline Terrapin Crossroads‘ Sunday Daydream festivals in July and August. Click here for more information, and visit the festival site for tickets.
The Clubhouse Sessions: Episode 5 – Ft. Dave Bruzza
The post Phil Lesh Explains Origins Of “China” > “Rider”, Jams With Greensky’s Dave Bruzza In New Clubhouse Session [Video] appeared first on L4LM.
