tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post4831221450066400935..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: November 24, 1970: Tarot RehearsalLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-43358500697028316122019-08-05T18:40:36.125-07:002019-08-05T18:40:36.125-07:00Although this isn't the Dead, I've include...Although this isn't the Dead, I've included it here since this article is an interesting new find that illuminates one of Garcia's lesser-known activities in late 1970. <br />Garcia had been helping with the music for Tarot on and off through the year; now on 11/24/70, we find him joining a rehearsal on pedal steel shortly before the play hit the stage in New York. <br />A Garcia/Constanten performance of 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds' sounds enticing! <br /><br />Rubber Duck member Paul Dresher recalls, "Garcia also came to an early rehearsal for Tarot when we were rehearsing in some warehouse in Chelsea. That rehearsal was actually my first opportunity to play with Garcia and I was TOTALLY pumped. We had a great jam session and part way through, we took a break and Jerry got out a couple of joints which we all shared (except TC, who wasn't partaking of any such intoxicants at that point) and then got back to jamming. At the outset, I had inquired about recording the session and was told that it was going to be recorded. The recorder turned out to be an old (even at that time!) two track Wollensak and when I got the tape, it was TOTALLY distorted, like the levels were set at 11 and not monitored. Needless to say, I was disappointed... I think it was a great session but we'll never know for certain."<br /><br />Per this article, in between his Dead schedule "Garcia will sit in with Rubber Band for some of the previews, opening night Dec. 8, and maybe a few other dates." <br />His participation turned out to be more minimal - Dresher said that "while we were playing the first run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the fall, he came and sat in for one performance, playing only pedal steel... The music for this show was mostly composed and while he was somewhat familiar with the music from having played in early demos for the score (and from attending one rehearsal), he was very careful and held back most of the show, only cutting loose in passages where jamming was possible (and there were a few). So, he most definitely played ONE and only one show of Tarot." <br /><br />On the other hand, Jim Byers (who was also in the group) said Garcia never joined them onstage - "I was at all performances and he never was there." Art Fayer also said that "Garcia was supposed to play with us, never did." (I don't think the other bandmembers have commented.) <br />But it seems one audience member recalls seeing Garcia play pedal steel in a Tarot show, so I think it most likely he did play just a preview (or maybe opening night) before splitting. Previews ran the first week of December, when Garcia was free. Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com