I became a huge fan of Gentle Giant in my youth. I loved the way they blended different musical genres, styles, and instruments and how the rhythmic aspects of their sound were so deeply off-beat and yet so accessible and engaging. And I totally love how you draw the parallel to how Hasidism brought the supposedly inaccessible 'esoterica' of the Kabbalah to the common person.
Totally satisfying story, and I'm all in there. Best thing, I heard of Gentle Giant, never pursued them, and I have a new band to discover. Acquiring a taste for life and preparing for transcendence is the spice. I don't wonder anymore about, say, why I like black olives, other than to say, I don't like green olives. Thank you, Adam.
Like Barry I really enjoyed this article, particularly as it's given me a new band to dig into! I love the prog and jazz fusion bands you mention, so I'm looking forward to checking them out. Thanks Adam
They opened for Jethro Tull back in 1972, my second ever rock concert I attended. Remember some vigor and energy. Am intrigued, will have to revisit their work.
The other aspect that makes the esoterica legitimate is that it stays true to the surface meaning--it adds to the more readily accessible without contradicting or undermining it. There is the wonderful story in the Zohar just before the beginning of the most esoteric section, the book within the book called 'The Book of Concealment' ( Sefer Hatzni-uta ) that tells the story of the farmer who comes down from his hillside farm to the town in the valley to take a look around. Paraphrasing... The simple farmer sees all kinds of very ornate fancy baked delicacies and asked what is the main ingredient that is used to make all of these elaborate baked goods, and the bakers respond 'Flour'. 'And what is the flour made of?' the farmer asks. It is made from the kernels of wheat that are ground up. And the farmer says 'OK. I get it. I'll stick with the essential ingredient in all those fancy cakes you make a big deal out of--I grow and eat those wheat kernels ( and save a lot of time and effort! ) and stick to the essence.
I became a huge fan of Gentle Giant in my youth. I loved the way they blended different musical genres, styles, and instruments and how the rhythmic aspects of their sound were so deeply off-beat and yet so accessible and engaging. And I totally love how you draw the parallel to how Hasidism brought the supposedly inaccessible 'esoterica' of the Kabbalah to the common person.
Totally satisfying story, and I'm all in there. Best thing, I heard of Gentle Giant, never pursued them, and I have a new band to discover. Acquiring a taste for life and preparing for transcendence is the spice. I don't wonder anymore about, say, why I like black olives, other than to say, I don't like green olives. Thank you, Adam.
Like Barry I really enjoyed this article, particularly as it's given me a new band to dig into! I love the prog and jazz fusion bands you mention, so I'm looking forward to checking them out. Thanks Adam
You’re in for a treat!
They opened for Jethro Tull back in 1972, my second ever rock concert I attended. Remember some vigor and energy. Am intrigued, will have to revisit their work.
Nice. I was lucky enough to have seen JT 3x in the 80s...
The other aspect that makes the esoterica legitimate is that it stays true to the surface meaning--it adds to the more readily accessible without contradicting or undermining it. There is the wonderful story in the Zohar just before the beginning of the most esoteric section, the book within the book called 'The Book of Concealment' ( Sefer Hatzni-uta ) that tells the story of the farmer who comes down from his hillside farm to the town in the valley to take a look around. Paraphrasing... The simple farmer sees all kinds of very ornate fancy baked delicacies and asked what is the main ingredient that is used to make all of these elaborate baked goods, and the bakers respond 'Flour'. 'And what is the flour made of?' the farmer asks. It is made from the kernels of wheat that are ground up. And the farmer says 'OK. I get it. I'll stick with the essential ingredient in all those fancy cakes you make a big deal out of--I grow and eat those wheat kernels ( and save a lot of time and effort! ) and stick to the essence.