Morning Dew

They Say...

Review by Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Composer and keyboardist Tom Constanten (piano) issued his follow-up to Nightfall of Diamonds (1992) with another volume of instrumental delights. Once again, the disparate play list reflects Constanten's remarkable talents and equally diverse musical interests. As many listeners will know him primarily through his contributions with the Grateful Dead, there are several seminal sides circa his all-too-brief tenure with the band. These include "Mountains of the Moon" as well as fresh interpretations of Bonnie Dobson's post-apocalyptic folk anthem "Morning Dew" and Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" -- both remaining in the Grateful Dead's live cannon for practically the entire duration of their 30-year-career. The pianist similarly calls on the cannon of his acid rock contemporaries Jefferson Airplane for "Lather," the cover of Donovan's "Fat Angel" and "Embryonic Journey." The latter features the author of the piece Jorma Kaukonen (guitar) and would inspire the release Making of Embryonic Journey: Studio Session (1994), a limited-edition disc containing numerous versions of the song, as the pair search for the perfect take. In addition to the pop influences, Morning Dew highlights Constanten's love of practically every genre. His unfettered frolics range from a respectively tasty reworking of Albert Ammons' "Boogie Woogie Blues" and Rev. Gary Davis' "Hesitation Blues" to the opulent madness of Terry Ryan's "Parallax." Constanten is likewise luminous on his own stride-style composition "Dejazz" and the intricate, delicate baroque "Alaric's Premonition" -- a gothic rondeau based on a theme by Jerry Garcia. He also hits upon a few classical selections, such as Domenico Scarlatti's lovely but labyrinthine Sonate in G Minor, K.4 and the avant-garde Sonatina, a one-time dedication from Constanten to Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh when the two were schoolmates.