During a brief period in the early 1970s, the Grateful Dead looked to expand their sound by welcoming a small section of horn players during their fall tour of 1973.
While the Dead’s best-known collaborations with a horn player would probably be their shows with Branford Marsalis in the 1990s, the band also teamed up with saxophonist/flutist Martin Fierro and trumpeter Joe Ellis for a run of shows leading up to the release of Wake of the Flood—on which both appeared—including their September 15th, 1973 performance at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, RI. Fierro was also a part of the famed Legion of Mary band of 1974–1975, which featured Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders, and would go on to play in Zero alongside Steve Kimock.
The eight-show tour with horns in fall 1973 is a testament to Dead’s versatility and willingness to explore new sounds. Hearing them cut loose with such a unique band configuration is a compelling example of their adaptability. As the band continued to rise in popularity among East Coast fans during the early ’70s, this Providence performance stood out as one to remember.
Related: Grateful Dead Debut Infamous ‘Wall Of Sound’ At Cow Palace, On This Day In 1974 [Listen]
Stream the full set with horns beginning with “Truckin'” from their September 15th performance below.
Grateful Dead — Providence Civic Center — Providence, RI — 9/15/73
[Audio: Jonathan Aizen]