The Ridgefield Playhouse will be hosting a special performance in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead and the 1960’s San Francisco sound. On Aug. 13, exactly 50 years after the formation of Jefferson Airplane, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Paul Kantner will lead Jefferson Starship along with David Freiberg, Grammy-nominated singer Cathy Richardson, Tom Constanten and other special guests. Joining Jefferson Starship will be Jazz is Dead, celebrated for their unique instrumental style in recreating the music of the Grateful Dead. This historic performance will be taped for a future television broadcast.
Formed in 1998, Jazz is Dead is reuniting on The Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, with a densely packed 6-week August/September tour and a handful of shows scattered throughout the following months. Lead by Jeff Pevar (guitarist for Phil Lesh) and Alphonso Johnson (bassist with Furthur and Weather Report), Jazz is Dead will also be joined by Tom Constanten on keys who played and recorded with The Grateful Dead in the late 60’s and part of 1970. Jazz is Dead quickly gained attention in 1998 for their unique instrumental renditions of Grateful Dead songs.
The August 13 show marks the 50th anniversary of the Jefferson Airplane’s formation – August 13, 1965. Jefferson Starship has been on a steady run since forming out of Jefferson Airplane in 1974, aside from a hiatus and reformation in the middle of that time. Led by one of Jefferson Airplane’s founders, Paul Kantner, the group carries on the music of the Airplane with sets that have a very unscripted and personal feel to them. The 2008 addition of the talented singer Cathy Richardson has recreated some of the notable vocal power Grace Slick carried through the band years ago.
Rounding off this San Francisco sound celebration will be Dan Healy who will be hosting the show and engineering the sound. Healy has had a remarkable impact on The Grateful Dead following, engineering the band’s soundboard following Owsley “Bear” Stanley and helping create the Wall of Sound system. He also helped introduce the taper section to Dead shows.
Tickets for the show are on sale now on The Ridgefield Playhouse’s website and by phone by calling the box office at 203-438-5795. Tickets are $69 with a $96 VIP meet-and-greet ticket option available as well. This special not to be missed show starts at 8 pm.
The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.
Jazz is Dead will be joined by Jefferson Starship for only five of their shows in this tour including their Aug. 16 show at BB King’s Blues Club in NYC. Jazz is Dead will also appear by themselves at the Tarrytown Music Hall on Aug. 21. Check out the band websites for full details on their tours.
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