Mickey Hart: Rhythm on the Brain

Mickey Hart is probably best known as one half of the Rhythm Devils, the percussion powerhouse that gave the Grateful Dead their rhythmic spine.

But now, Hart is making a name for himself in an entirely different field — ethnomusicology.

Most recently, he joined with Dr. Adam Gazzalley, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, to study the effects of rhythm on afflictions related to aging.

Now, Hart's studies and his music are intersecting. On his new album, "Superorganism," Hart sonifies his brain wave signals using a special device and incorporates those sounds into his compositions.

"This time we journey into the micro, the hidden worlds of rhythm within us, within our bodies," Hart, who performs at Norwalk City Hall on Friday, Aug. 16, said in a statement. "The brain, rhythm central, the place of dreams is explored."

The experiment extends to his concert tour. At each show, Hart performs a piece featuring the sounds of his own brain while wearing an EEG cap so the audience can visualize his brain activity in real time.

The Mickey Hart Band consists of Grammy winning percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, Tony Award winning vocalist Crystal Monee Hall, singer and multi-instrumentalist Joe Bagale, drummer Greg Schutte, guitarist Gawain Matthews, bassist Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green) and keyboardist/sound engineer Jonah Sharp.

A portion of the proceeds from the tour will go to fund Hart and Dr. Gazzaley's Music Therapy research project.

By – CTPost.com