Tales from the Green Room

In this very special episode of Tales from the Green Room - recorded backstage at Terrapin Crossroads’ Sunday Daydream Vol. 3 in San Rafael, CA on July 21, 2024, on what turned out to be the late Phil Lesh’s final performance -  hosts Dennis Strazulo and Tami Larson sit down with legendary musician Stanley Jordan, Greg Loiacono (Greg Loiacano and Stingray, Mother Hips, and Jerry Saracini (Forgotten Space) all who shared the stage with Phil that day.  The conversation is steeped in rich history and bittersweet emotions as the musicians reflect on their personal journeys, the profound impact of Terrapin Crossroads and the teachings of Phil Lesh 

From Stanley Jordan’s innovative "touch technique" to Greg Loiacono's stories of community and camaraderie with The Mother Hips, and Jerry Saracini’s perspective on channeling energy through music, this episode celebrates the intersection of creativity, tradition, and transformation. The artists share deeply personal insights, explore the healing power of music, and pay homage to Phil Lesh’s monumental contributions to the music world and their careers.

Photo Gallery from Sunday Daydream Vol. 3 by Gabriel David Barkin
Tales of The Mekong Delta Bluesman by Son Vo

Episode Highlights:

  • Stanley Jordan: Shares his unique approach to guitar through his touch technique, blending influences from piano and jazz. Stanley delves into his role in Grateful Dead tributes and reveals exciting details about his upcoming album, Feather in the Wind. Deborah Barsotti, Educator and Music Therapist, joins the conversation to discuss her collaboration with Stanley supporting the mission of MusicOne empowering youth to grow and thrive and enabling mindfulness through music and performance.
  • Greg Loiacono: Reflects on his journey with The Mother Hips, his discovery of the Grateful Dead songbook, and the serendipitous connections that led him to Terrapin Crossroads.
  • Jerry Saracini: Discusses his passion for drumming, improvisation, and connecting with audiences. Jerry opens up about the distinct dynamics of playing Grateful Dead music and leading his band, Forgotten Space.
  • Phil Lesh’s Legacy: The trio honors Phil Lesh’s vision for preserving the Grateful Dead’s legacy and passing it on to new generations through family, community, and musical tradition.
  • The Healing Power of Music: A deep dive into how music brings people together, builds communities, and creates a sense of belonging, with insights from Deborah Barsotti’s work in music therapy and Stanley’s reflections on cosmic energy.
  • https://www.musicone.org/ - Deb Barsotti - Learn about this impactful organization fostering youth creativity through music education


Quotes from the Episode:

  • "Today I made a special point of listening in particular to Phil and making sure the lines I was playing were compatible with Phil.”  - Stanley Jordan
  • I put American Beauty in my cassette player and when I heard Box of Rain for the first time “I started weeping, I started crying, and I had this very emotional experience.”
    " – Greg Loiacono
  • “I feel like one of the lucky ones who lived in another city and yet somehow got wired into the rotation" of Terrapin Crossroads – "it felt like a home away from home.” - Jerry Saracini

Listen Now:
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review.


Follow Us:

Links:

Terrapin Crossroads/Sunday Daydream
 https://www.sundaydaydream.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TerrapinCrossroads

Grahame Lesh/Terrapin Family Band
https://www.grahamelesh.com/
@grahamelesh
@terrapinfamilyband 

Music:

Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi Hendrix8-Assemini (CA) Italy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLLGrw8kTtk

Stanley Jordan 
@officialstanleyjordan
https://www.stanleyjordan.com/en/

Giving it all away Terrapin Daydream 3 Greg Loiacono and Stingray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trDfRCIvrEk 

Greg Loiacono
@gregloiacono 
@motherhips 
https://gregloiacono.com/
https://www.motherhips.com/

Jerry Saracini- Forgotten Space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATTrUrC_6Vg

Jerry Saracini - Forgotten Space 
@forgottenspace 
@jerrysaracini 




Creators & Guests

Host
Dennis Strazulo
Dennis Strazulo & Tami Larson host backstage conversations with artists in the exclusive confines of green rooms at popular music venues and festivals.🎧
Host
Tami Larson
Dennis Strazulo & Tami Larson host backstage conversations with artists in the exclusive confines of green rooms at popular music venues and festivals.🎧

What is Tales from the Green Room?

Welcome to Tales from the Green Room - Backstage conversations from popular music venues around the country curated by Mount Tam Media.

Buckle up and listen in, as host Dennis Strazulo and Mount Tam Media founder, Tami Larson, dig up conversations with artists - before and after shows - in the exclusive confines of the green room. Barriers are down with stories abound!

Tales from the Greenroom Special Edition (Sweetwater Music Hall's 50th Anniversary Series)

Mount Tam Media is thrilled to launch its Tales From the Green Room Podcast with a special series of episodes celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The roster of artists that have crowded onto the club's little stages, first at the original Sweetwater location two blocks away, and now at the new location which opened in 2013, reads like a Who's Who of roots & rock music: Bob Weir, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Greg Allman, Van Morrison… the list of musical luminaries is endless. In the 80's, the Times of London hailed Sweetwater as one of the best nightclubs in America and the legacy continues! Mount Tam Media has been granted special access to Sweetwater’s green room during the venue’s 50th anniversary year to interview musicians, photographers, managers and the like, and capture their favorite moments and memories, preserving the untold secrets of what has graced these hallowed walls for half a century, before they are lost forever.