a documentary on Jerry Garcia.....

[Blurry]

If you were to watch a documentary on Jerry Garcia's influence on bluegrass today......

1) what would you want to see in the documentary?

2) who would you want to see in the documentary?

3) what questions would you want to hear answered?

4) what topics or sub-topics would you want to hear covered.

I've been thinking about this for a while and have started making it come to fruition. I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions anyone has! Thanks.

[Booche]

Garcia's influence on bluegrass?

Simple.

He pissed off a ton of traditionalists because stoned hippies began attaching themselves to that 'scene' and tried learning to play, albeit sloppy and shitty as fuck.

Consider me one of them.

[Burnt]

Did Jerry really have any influence on bluegrass music today?

I've always thought that bluegrass influenced Jerry's music not the other way around.

[dancingbear]

i agree with ^^^^ burnt.

maybe though cause jerry dug it, it opened the door for the melding of the communities ie. jamgrass etc.

[Kanada Kev]

An extensive look at the Old And In The Way recording would be a must. That album became the biggest selling "bluegrass" LP at the time I believe. It also provided for the introduction of the genre to the masses.

[MarcO]

is Jerry really considered an important bluegrass artist?

[Blurry]

Definitely bluegrass first had an influence on Jerry's music - not the other way around. I agree with you Burnt and Dancingbear.

But let me put it like this though. Think of Tony Rice or David Grisman or Bela Fleck or Peter Rowan etc... I would think you could safely say that their music (or much of) was influenced by bluegrass. At the same time - I would be surprised if you found anyone who said they didn't have an influence on bluegrass today.

I'm trying to pry into bluegrass today and see if it would be any different if Jerry had never been around.

Personally, my love for bluegrass has a direct correlation to Garcia. Seems like it may be so for Booche too ;^) I was so mesmorized by Garcia I wanted to hear everything he said, played, did - and so I stumbled upon bluegrass via Old & in the Way.

Also - look at all the "jamband" festivals. Look at all the bluegrass now at these "jamband" festivals. Would it be this way if we had never heard of Jerry Garcia?

(Thanks for the input so far!)

Edited April 8, 2008 by Guest

[AdamH]

The notion that Jerry influenced the world of bluegrass brings out the skeptic in me. It's much like saying Eric Clapton influenced the blues.

In both their cases maybe they helped shine a light on it. In Jerry's case his bluegrass playing was more focused and more methodical, with a little les room to breathe - and I think that was his way of respecting the art that influenced him rather than the other way around.

[Booche]

Seems like it may be so for Booche too

Totally, 100%

In Jerry's case his bluegrass playing was more focused and more methodical, with a little les room to breathe - and I think that was his way of respecting the art that influenced him rather than the other way around.

Exactly. Keep in mind Blurry that at one point, Jerry's dream was to be a member of Bill Munroe's band. He finally realized he wasnt going to cut it. Thankfully he always looked forward or we would never have known about him or all that great Americana music to which he opened up to so many ears. You would have to interview a ton of actual bluegrass players, or at least ones proficient enough at their instrument, that are playing away from the traditionalist norm to find out what Jerry's influence was on them. How many bluegrass bands do you know that do just that? There's some that are obvious but I really dont think you would get very far. Best of luck though. That's a huge undertaking.

If anything, his approach to music in general taught the most lessons learned and luckily for us he became involved in bluegrass again in the mid-70's and then all that great Dawg music in the late 80's early 90's.

[Schwa.]

Jerry brought lovable music to music lovers. wow, write that one down.

[Booche]

wow, get off the rails cat.

[Schwa.]

monorail cat is very profound. his first bluegrass cd ever was the pizza tapes...he also loves rails.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

1) hillbillys who've never heard of the man, for occasional comic relief

2) not too much of grisman, more of the popular current bluegrass groups and a few hippy-bluegrass wannabes

3) i'd want anecdotes

4) hippygrass v pure bluegrass (sloppy cheaters v purist improvisors)

[bouche]

you'd have to track down the original members of Bluegrassy High. I'm not sure where they all are though, or if they can even be reached. Some say that the bass player went a little crazy and is now reenacting civil war events... solo.

[timouse]

Garcia's influence on bluegrass?

Simple.

He pissed off a ton of traditionalists because stoned hippies began attaching themselves to that 'scene' and tried learning to play, albeit sloppy and shitty as fuck.

Consider me one of them.

i would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Hux]

If you can't track down Bluegrassy High, The New Main Street Singers should be included.

[Blurry]

You would have to interview a ton of actual bluegrass players

And that's really were any credit to the documentary will lie.

You're right Booche this will be a huge undertaking - definitely at least a couple/few years down the line before there's anything concrete.

Davey Boy - thanks for your answers.

AdamH - I certainly respect your stance. Though I do think he influenced it (which is obvious from the thread) - take an example that pops to mind right away of YMSB. WOuld they rock a song for 10 minutes if Jerry had never been?

I've done a good chunk of brainstorming for this - I was throwing this out there because I want to cover all angles. And I've got a couple of things I hadn't thought of. So thanks!

Much apprecition for all your views and input!

[bouche]

what do you do Blurry? have you made other documentaries?

[Blurry]

Nope, never made documentaries. This is a dream of mine - something I've had twirling around in my head for a while.

[AdamH]

You would have to interview a ton of actual bluegrass players

AdamH - I certainly respect your stance. Though I do think he influenced it (which is obvious from the thread) - take an example that pops to mind right away of YMSB. WOuld they rock a song for 10 minutes if Jerry had never been?

Far be it from me to dictate the content of your documentary too explicitly. If you're thesis is that early 90's hippiegrass bands like YMSB were influenced by the Dead or by Jerry I would completely agree with you.

I'd be interested in hearing old timers talk about whether Garcia influenced them. Take a camera to Tottenham and ask people if he did or didn't influence their playing.

[Blurry]

If you're thesis is that early 90's hippiegrass bands like YMSB were influenced by the Dead or by Jerry I would completely agree with you.

That's definitely a part of the theory - but not limited to that

I'd be interested in hearing old timers talk about whether Garcia influenced them. Take a camera to Tottenham and ask people if he did or didn't influence their playing.

I do want to make this well rounded and get responses like the ones you're looking for where they look at me and have no idea what I'm talking about when I say Jerry Garcia and bluegrass in the same sentence. Like Davey Boy said, a bit of comic relief is good too.

Edited April 10, 2008 by Guest