Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation

Although fans and scholars alike recognize the Grateful Dead as icons of the psychedelic music, the band’s improvisatory approach still remains an enigma to the uninitiated. In Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation, Malvinni unravels this mystery, walking readers through the band’s musical decision-making process. Written for rock music fans with little to no background in music theory and scholars and students of popular music culture, the book reveal the method behind the seeming madness of America’s greatest jam band.

Musicologist and classical guitarist, David Malvinni is adjunct professor of Music and African-American studies at Santa Barbara Community College and author of The Gypsy Caravan: From Real Roma to Imaginary Gypsies in Western Music and Film (Routledge, 2004).