Have you ever wondered if The Grateful Dead could pass for interpretation on solo piano? Well, it definitely can, and piano virtuoso Kristina Marinova on her newest album The Bus Came By And I Got On.
It captures the sonic tapestry of the Grateful Dead’s music with a setlist designed to replicate a Dead concert from their 1966 inception to their award-winning and critically-acclaimed three-album Live European Tour in 1972.
Marinova, a classically trained pianist raised on Bach, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff, among others, took on the unique challenge of blending the eclectic style of The Grateful Dead, incorporating psychedelic sounds, folk, rock, country, and bluegrass, among others. Simultaneously challenging was the smooth interweaving of Jerry Garcia’s expressive guitar work, Phil Lesh’s innovative bass lines, and Bob Weir’s unconventional rhythms all captured through the piano.
For me, who appreciates the music and legacy of The Grateful Dead, the album captivated me in a different way, and I loved how it flows like a set list from a concert in a new light.
Kristina Marinova will be performing the album The Bus Came By And I Got On at Carnegie Hall this fall, as well as Tarrytown Music Hall and more. To buy tickets, please visit: https://www.kristinamarinova.com/new-events
Learn more and listen to the album here.
