Eyes Of The World: 'The Heart Has Its Seasons, Its Evenin's And Songs Of Its Own'

If it wasn't for the love of my woman and all our critters, I would have melted down some time ago in not merely trying to write about the President From Hell, but trying to rationalize how anyone, regardless of what basket they live in, can support he and his Vichy Republican enablers.  

And then there is music, which takes me about as far away from this insanity as I can get beyond all that homegrown love.  This brings me to "Eyes of the World," my favorite Grateful Dead song and one of my favorites of any musical genre.    

If ever the world needed "Eyes of the World," it is now.  

Which brings me to a wonderful piano rendition of the Jerry Garcia-Robert Hunter anthem by Holly Bowling, who has transcribed for piano, pretty much note-for-note, the Dead's performance of the song at a concert near her home at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky on June 18, 1974.  (I heard a not dissimilar version a few weeks later in Philadelphia.)  

Ms. Bowling is not Martha Argerich.  Hell, she's not even Bruce Hornsby.  But her version of "Eyes" is true to its modal jam roots, deeply satisfying and extraordinarily moving.  Her nod to Phil's bass solo with her left hand while playing Jerry with her right is insanity. 

If I can micromanage your life a little more, I'd recommend waiting until late in the evening after the dishes are done, the children and critters are abed and it is absolutely q-u-i-e-t to give it a first listen.    

Click here for a link to a video of Ms. Bowling's wonderful cover, which is part of JamBase's Songs of Their Own series.