Jerry Garcia/David Grisman

| Acoustic Disc (1991) | MFSL 2015 stereo-only SACD

Jerry Garcia, cofounder of The Grateful Dead, was a hero to his adoring fans and a part of his mojo was his appreciation for diverse musical genres. Here he plays with mandolin virtuoso David Grisman (along with Jim Kerwin on bass and Joe Craven on percussion) in a weird alchemy of acoustic bluegrass and Southern folk blues, playing songs that include The Thrill Is Gone, Two Soldiers, Dawg Waltz, Rockin Chair, Walking Boss and Friend of the Devil. Garcia’s creaky vocals fit the pieces, his guitar solos are deft and assured and Grisman plays with virtuosic intensity: They transform the material. The SACD sound glows: flawless is the tonality of mandolin and the guitar sound is crisp and detailed. This was a very good album in 1991, but re-mixed using Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs’ updated Gain 2 System technology, it is unforgettable. www.audaud.com