Jorma Kaukonen: Airplane and beyond, by Michael Simmons.

AIRPLANE AT THE LIMIT

Jefferson Airplane ★★★★★ (RCA VICTOR, 1969) The Airplane’s fifth LP serves as the Woodstock Nation’s sonic manifesto, covering radical left-wing politics, the environment and the band’s sui generis lysergic worldview. Some of Kaukonen’s finest studio work is here: his fuzzed, sizzling lead on Kantner’s We Can Be Together is quintessential ’60s rock guitar. He’d been singing and performing the traditional Good Shepherd since the early ’60s (and still does) – here it’s rock’n’roll.

JACK & JORMA BRANCH OUT

Hot Tuna ★★★★ (GRUNT, 1972) Tuna’s third album has a thrilling opener: the re-tooled traditional True Religion opens with Kaukonen’s masterful acoustic hand gymnastics; after an instrumental verse he comes in singing with full rhythm section and violinist Papa John Creach’s bowed blue notes. The tempo then shifts and Kaukonen re-enters on wall-melting electric. The rest of the record is similarly sublime, including instrumental and fan favourite Water Song that, like Embryonic Journey, enters mystical realms with nary a lyric.

THE ACOUSTIC REVERIE

Jorma Kaukonen ★★★★ (GRUNT, 1974) Another side of Kaukonen. One of his lesser-known talents is as a balladeer of love songs and there are several here on his first solo album. Genesis and Song For The North Star have endured as two of his finest compositions. Underpinned with his acoustic fingerpicking, they’re simple and tender with tasteful string arrangements. Old friend Tom Hobson contributes guitar and vocals. A refreshingly gentle, ruminative collection.