Grateful Dead

the lack of jazz and improvised/experimental music in the Dead/jamband/festival/community scene.want to banish obscurity, estimated-eyes? want to become more aware of what's out there? encourage publications, festival promoters and bands to investigate, add to the bill, take out on tour and support. if the audience decides that they're not going for it and it doesn't work for them, fine. but give them the option to hear it. Furthur, Mickey, 7 Walkers and those like-minded fellow musical travelers: buy a copy of The Wire magazine (the Dead, you have lifelong friend and supporter of all things Grateful in Editor Chris Bohn, also writes under the name Biba Kopf); check out ubuweb.com. visit spaces like the Empty Bottle in Chicago; The Stone in New York, Cafe Oto in London, SuperDeluxe in Japan. we don't necessarily need to hear something championed in Relix Magazine as a special guest; we don't necessarily need to hear the same kinda artists as support act. i am more than happy to send cdr's of music and cover postage at my own cost; links and sites of interest. this isn't condescension. this isn't to patronise. it is an open letter to whoever is listening to encourage a less incestuous musical family. too bad that long gone are the days when Charles Lloyd, Charles Mingus or Miles Davis were on the same bill as a psychedelic rock band. '60's cross-pollination reduced to back-slapping and inbred blowjobs. even....EVEN, an jazz artist already known to the majority of Dead Heads; David Murray. his recent projects with the Gwo Ka Masters and excursions into Cuban ensembles; a short tour with Furthur? how on earth is that not possible?

please send love, support and anything else you can offer to Johnman; the shit has hit the fan for him and his son and needs whatever you can give. please read the "positive vibes" topic for further info.

the infiltration of Glenn Kotche, Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline into Furthur. would happily drag the ol' plums across broken glass and go bankrupt to follow any tour they'd wish to undertake.

one thing i feel rather strongly about is everyone on dead.net talking and engaging more in the "In Memory..." topic. maybe not so much when artists or musicians etc. are mentioned, as these can be personal posts, but when fellow Heads and Kynd folk connected to the scene need help and positive energy i think it's our duty as a community to stick together and cast a healing light towards those most in need. please spare a thought and be there for others who desperately need our healing and who require help.

Dylan Carlson is creating his first major solo project outside of earth.There will be a limited edition lp/dvd/book and cd/dvd/book(500 of each format) and a special pressing of 150 copies(lp only) with personalized ex libris by Simon Fowler (Who will also do the cover and end papers). The illustrations will be by Kiyo Lappalainen. The limited edition books will be pop-up style. There will also be an open edition with regular flat printing in a cd booklet and flat lp printing. The recording will combine field recordings from various megalithic and other sites of human/fairy encounters across the UK, also the use of ritual and folkloric magical practices. The expedition will be filmed by Clyde Petersen. These recordings will be layered with Dylan's interpretations of classic Scotch-English ballads about human/fairy encounters from early modern England and Scotland(15th-18th century). It will also feature guest vocalists to sing the songs. This is not being done through a label, as earth's output has, but is a labor of love/obsession of Dylan's. Being primarily of Scotch-English descent, this is an historical journey to his personal and cultural past, embracing music/folklore/the occult dimension and history. This is also result of personal experience's of 'the other side'. His blog, http://drcarlsonalbion.wordpress.com/ has details, if interested. The field recordings will be accomplished in April-May of 2012. The rest of the recording/mastering will be finished in summer and early fall, the artwork is an ongoing process, already begun. Dylan is planning to have it all done for a May 2013 release. Join in the restoration of magic, a return to a world of spirits. Where all objects have a will of their own and a language they speak in, and we have learned how to speak with them again. It will be titled "Coleman Grey presents 'Falling with a Thousand Stars and Other Wonders from the House of Albion'."