Phil Lesh is 70

[dellzeqq]

the master of understatement and an odd, inquiring, kind of underpinning. He didn't start off as a bass player, or even as a musician in a band, but, rather, as a student of serious music. That he brought a classical sensibility to what was, at the time a jug band, takes a little believing - the more so as he hadn't played bass guitar before getting the job. Without him the jug band might have become the nicest country outfit ever, but never, surely, the nicest psychedlic jazz band ever.

Here he is talking about the writing of 'Box of Rain.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQbURirZSRY

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Here he is talking about the writing of 'Box of Rain.

Well that's a hell of a song, best one on American Beauty, which is a mighty fine country-rock record IMO.

Happy belated birthday Mr Lesh!

 

[Foghat]

Indeed.

Not just the provider of the underpinning, Phil often had major responsibility for some of the truly special zenithal 'on' moments that characterised the band's live sound. His almost psychic interplay with Jerry often resulted in the 'beyond' moments that Deadheads scan for when listening to concerts. A good example is in THIS, between 5'51 and 5'56" where he responds to Jerry's inspired brief pause and exhilarating 5'52" strained chord-with-bend selection by dropping in some beautifully appropriate heavy low notes, resulting in something spontaneously and serendipitously perfect that the observant audience can be seen sensing and reacting to immediately.

Of course, Jerry, utterly attuned to what the others are doing, takes this as a prompt to lay down a series of exquisite follow-up note-runs that illustrate exactly what high-quality improvised groove-based music is all about, and you can see him nodding his enjoyment and approval.

You won't get it with laptop speakers, I'm afraid, but plug in some decent headphones, crank the bass and volume right up, and all becomes clear!

Thanks, Phil!