Jerry Garcia And David Grisman

Lovely addition to any music collection!:
Jerry Garcia/David Grisman's 1991 self-titled album is an acoustic delight that everyone, from die hard Deadheads to casual fans looking for some excellent guitar and mandolin picking, will enjoy. Jerry Garcia, legendary leader of the now defunct Grateful Dead, teams with the less widely known (but supremely talented) David Grisman for 58:28 minutes of sublime music sure to soothe substance seeking listeners. This collection of songs includes a cover of the BB King classic 'The Thrill is Gone' and an amazing reworking of the Dead's beloved 'Friend of the Devil'. Also especially noteworthy is 'Russian Lullaby' and 'Dawg's Waltz', which showcases Grisman's ability to make the mandolin sing. The traditional rendition of `Walkin' Boss' is so exceptionally authentic that one can practically see the mist rising off the Appalachian Mountains. Even the ample 16:25 minutes of 'Arabia' doesn't feel unnecessarily long. This album would be a delightful addition to any music lovers collection, but particularly those interested in acoustic music. It has also been a welcome break from more traditional lullaby collections and works like a charm to lull my four children (ages 5, 4, 3 & 1) off to dreamland. A rare find indeed - something complex enough for adults yet dulcet enough for slumbering kids.

Friend of a friend:
I heard the acoustic version of "Friend of the Devil" on my local public radio station, and I was blown away. I had to have it, but was worried the rest of the album would not be as good. Not to worry, a fantastic album throughout. "Russian Lullaby" is catchy, "The Thrill is Gone" is done so you forget B.B. King, "Arabia" the last song on the album is 16:25 long, and not a second too long. If it helps to know where I'm coming from, I'm a fan of acoustic music and have been learning the mandolin myself. This album is more for the acoustic music fan; I can't speak for the deadheads.

Grisman and Garcia:
If you like Old and In the Way you'll love this cd.

Grisman & Garcia:
I bought this CD for the cut "Arabia". Much of the rest is Garcia and Grisman attempting the Blues. Neither artist is a blues singer, and it shows. Still, "Arabia" is worth the price of the CD.

Great Album; Joe please shut your mouth..:
This album is a wonderful document of two great friends playing some inspired music. Garcia's vocals are among the best he's ever laid down in the studio, and the interplay of his and Grisman's instruments on tracks like "The Thrill is Gone" and "Walking Boss" will make any fan of acoustic music smile all the way home. I agree that the classic "Friend of the Devil" is, IMHO, the best version I've heard. Jim Kerwin (on upright bass) and Joe Craven, both of DGQ fame, are also on hand to flesh out the sound on these numbers, and herein lies the 4 instead of 5 stars in my review. Jim and Joe are both super talented and I have seen them perform live with the DGQ on many occasions. However, Joe has an annoying aspect of his performance that is also present on this album; his percussive mouth sounds. Joe can play a fiddle like a fiend and sometimes plays multiple instruments almost all at once, and maybe this led to his experimenting with making mouth sounds like a high hat / brushed snare, just so he could be even more of a one man band. Unfortunately, once you know the source of that sound, it comes across as a guy going "tsch, tsch tsch tsch" in time with the music and sometimes, especially with the headphones, it's all I can do to try and ignore it. As a side note, at DGQ shows, the conversation at intermission from folks who have never seen them perform live ALWAYS includes some mentions of "That fiddle player is really talented, but why does he keep making those "Shuh" sounds? It's really distracting". Anyway, not to put too fine a point on it, and I bet Joe is a really nice guy, but his wacky free form mouth percussion is so annoying and distracting that it takes this, one of my favorite recorded Jerry performances ever, from 5 stars to 4. Having said that, buy it anyway! Maybe it won't grate on you as much.