Overview

Of all the musical developments of rock in the 1960s, one in particular fundamentally changed the music's structure and listening experience: the incorporation of extended improvisation into live performances. While many bands--including Cream, Pink Floyd, and the Velvet Underground--stretched out their songs with improvisations, no band was more identified with the practice than the Grateful Dead. In Get Shown the Light Michael Kaler examines how the Dead's dedication to improvisation stemmed from their belief that playing in this manner enabled them to touch upon transcendence. Drawing on band testimonials and analyses of early recordings, Kaler traces how the Dead developed an approach to playing music that they believed would facilitate their spiritual goals. He focuses on the band's early years, the significance of their playing Ken Kesey's Acid Test parties, and their evolving exploration of the myriad musical and spiritual possibilities that extended improvisation afforded. Kaler demonstrates that the Grateful Dead developed a radical new way of playing rock music as a means to unleash the spiritual and transformative potential of their music.

Full Product Details

9798874853402

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Michael Kaler is associate professor, teaching stream, at the Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy at the University of Toronto Mississauga and author of Flora Tells a Story: The Apocalypse of Paul and Its Contexts. Born and raised in Queens, NYC, Steve Menasche is a child of Egyptian and German immigrants. He completed BS studies in percussion from Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music as well as his minor in theater. He was also a student at Manhattan School of Music, Third Street Music Settlement, and American Conservatory Theatre. He has toured the world three times, was a member of New York City's American Folk Theatre for two years, narrated over 250 audiobooks, performed countless voice-overs for major brands, appeared in national commercial campaigns, and continues to perform as both an actor and musician/composer. He previously owned and taught hapkido and jujutsu in San Francisco and continues to teach when his old knees allow.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available