George Fetner and the Strays Founding Members Collaborate with Memphis Jazz and Blues Bassist Todd Edmunds on Fully-Improvised Release: TenMileRide

Article Contributed by gratefulweb | Published on Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Founding members of George Fetner and the Strays, George Fetner, Anthony Charles, and Matt Fenech, join forces with renowned Memphis jazz and blues bassist Todd Edmunds on an innovative, fully-improvised musical journey titled TenMileRide.

Spanning 43 minutes, TenMileRide intertwines themes from iconic Grateful Dead songs such as "West L.A. Fadeaway," "China Cat Sunflower," and "Franklin's Tower" with expansive improvisations that explore other familiar motifs like "Dark Star," "Shakedown Street," and "I Know You Rider." This unique fusion of familiar melodies with unrestrained improvisation promises to captivate both die-hard Deadheads and newcomers alike.

George Fetner, known for leading his bandmates on adventurous Grateful Dead excursions over the past decade, recognized a new opportunity to delve deeper into the realms of American improvisational music. Rather than treading familiar ground with cover band renditions, Fetner and his collaborators opted for a bold departure towards pure improvisation, utilizing themes from the Dead's repertoire as guiding beacons amidst a sea of musical exploration.

The response to TenMileRide has been resoundingly positive, with sold-out performances at the Nickelodeon Theater for "Meetup at the Movies" and appearances at notable events such as Florence, SC's annual Grateful Dog Festival and Columbia's Jerry Fest in 2023. The ensemble has quickly become a fixture in the local scene, sharing stages with other original acts and earning acclaim for their boundary-pushing approach to live performance.

Described as "utterly unlike anything you would ever hear at a Dead concert and yet wonderfully, soothingly familiar to fans and newcomers alike" by Free Times, TenMileRide represents a bold evolution for George Fetner and the Strays, showcasing their commitment to pushing musical boundaries while honoring the rich tradition of American improvisational music.

For more information and updates on upcoming performances, visit their website.

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