Phil Lesh appreciation thread...

[VincentPuleo]

I have been so psyched on his playing lately... You could not find one man who could play with the Grateful Dead better then he did.

Listen to some live tracks, the stuff he plays seriously amazes me... not technically speaking but his lines were just so cool and would compliment the song perfectly. In a lot of songs he just as much of a lead player as Jerry but he is still grooving and almost soloing at the same time...

Lets not turn this into a hate thread cause that stuff is no good, but by all means share your opinion...

[baba]

Big Phil fan here. To me, he was at least 40% of their sound. Jerry was the other 40%. Everyone else made up the rest.

[PSPookie]

+1

Phil is The Man.

[VincentPuleo]

Originally Posted by baba

Big Phil fan here. To me, he was at least 40% of their sound. Jerry was the other 40%. Everyone else made up the rest.

Haha, yes I am... I can only discuss it here too cause I am only 17 and most of my piers do not even know who he is, haha.

I am new here, what does +1 mean.. does it up my rep or something?

[Visirale]

Grateful Dead definitely isn't my cup of tea... at all, haha. But I appreciate those who do dig it... Definitely like what their techs brought about with Alembic...

[VincentPuleo]

Anybody else into Phil?

[LowEndJazz4Life]

I just got done reading his book and my respect for him grew even more than it was before. I believe that phils playing played a huge role in making the dead who they are.

[edbutler3]

He had an unusual sense of rhythm for a bass player -- resting where I'd expect a note, then playing a note where I'd expect a rest.

He was definitely an influence on me for a few years, back when I used to hang out with some fans of the group.

[Planet Boulder]

Originally Posted by VincentPuleo

I have been so psyched on his playing lately... You could not find one man who could play with the Grateful Dead better then he did.

Listen to some live tracks, the stuff he plays seriously amazes me... not technically speaking but his lines were just so cool and would compliment the song perfectly. In a lot of songs he just as much of a lead player as Jerry but he is still grooving and almost soloing at the same time...

Lets not turn this into a hate thread cause that stuff is no good, but by all means share your opinion...

Agree with everything, except I would add that his playing (or, to be more specific, his "phrasing") is actually quite technical.

Phil is a very academic musician and always has been. His lines are very original and really help define the Dead's sound.

I have nothing but the greatest respect for Phil. I've learned a lot from him over the years.

If you have not done so, read "Searching for the Sound", which he wrote. It is quite well written (MUCH better than Dennis McNally's tangential slogfest, "Long Strange Trip", which was in desperate need of editing) and tells you really all you need to know about his foundations and growth as a musician as well as the evolution of the Dead themselves.

[csala]

Funny, I was listening to them today. When an acoustic Friend Of The Devil was playing I thought to myself how much it seems he was influenced by upright players in acoustic situations. His bass line was very "uprighty" if that makes sense. Odd phrasing and wide intervals with a really woody, round sound from what I recall.

I heard an interview with him a few years ago and he was talking about how much chamber music influenced him. Then he played some chamber music he enjoyed, and I swear for the first time I heard where he got some of his bass influence from. He's certainly not your typical rock guy.

[warwick.hoy]

Lesh is the Man. Definitely an influence on me.

[bassjus]

I'm a huge fan of Phil, I've seen him live a few times, but never with the dead(I'm a little to young) I read his book a while ago, and it was definitely an awesome read.

[Kirkowitz]

I love Phil's playing. It's great to hear how his playing and tone changed over the years. The spur of the moment improvisation and the interaction with the other instruments. Sometimes it didn't click....but when it does......but when it does........

[kesslari]

I have huge love and respect for how he plays and what he does.
It's not where I come from, musically, but I really like it.
I especially love his ability to stretch out, roll with the groove, roll around the groove, and bring it back in again - and his ability to play with dynamics (in more than just "louder and softer) is just beautiful.

[Baryonyx]

I don't think he's that great a player but his six string Modulus is very cool indeed.

[VincentPuleo]

I am definietly going to check out his book, it is cool you all you guys like his playing, he will always be one of my favorites.

Does anyone know if he ever played an Alembic? or what basses he played over the years... also how does he get that tone, I understand a lot of it has to do with the player but talking about equipment...

[kesslari]

An Alembic was his main axe for quite a while.
Also his Guild Starfire was heavily modified by Alembic before they really started building guitars (they did the electronics) and can be thought of as a sort of proto-Alembic...

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm big fan of Phil. I've seen him play with the Dead about 6 six times and then I've seen his Phil and friends show 4 times. His runs are just amazing. When he's on, it's just crazy. I love listening to what he did with the dead in those Europe 72 recordings. Especially Cumberland Blues.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Planet Boulder

Agree with everything, except I would add that his playing (or, to be more specific, his "phrasing") is actually quite technical.

+1 on the phrasing. When you listen to Phil's lines you realize they don't start and stop in short bursts. They open, unfold, elaborate and conclude. VERY lyrical and intracate and yet they don't get in the way.

[Corporate Boy]

I think there is a lot of Scott Lafaro<?> in his playing or at least that is my theory right now.... I have been listening to a lot of Bill Evan's trio lately to try to catch that vibe.