Jesse McReynolds & Friends - "Songs of the Grateful Dead" CD Review

"Jesse Lester McReynolds (born July 9, 1929, in Coeburn, Virginia) is an American bluegrass musician. He is known for his innovative crosspicking and split-string styles of mandolin playing, and is a forty two year member of the Grand Ole Opry. He is a multiple Grammy nominee and award winner." -- Wikipedia

In October, Jesse McReynolds released a loving twelve-track tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead and the disc features one new cut which McReynolds co-wrote with Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.

Songs of the Grateful Dead isn't just bluegrass renditions of Grateful Dead tunes (like Dead Grass and The Grass is Dead) as McReynolds leveraged friends David Nelson (New Riders Of The Purple Sage) and Stu Allen to create an unique interpretations of each song which ultimately don't stray too far from the Dead's original versions. "It's a different type of music than I've done throughout the years," McReynolds says. "I didn't want to do it bluegrass. A few bluegrass groups have done Grateful Dead things. I wanted to do this more in a way that would be recognized as the Grateful Dead-style music. I did it pretty much in the middle of the road between bluegrass and rock 'n' roll."

In addition to the crisp and intricate instrumentals, McReynolds has a strong voice that isn't that far removed from Jerry Garcia's. “Jesse’s singing voice is like a long-lost brother voice between Jerry Garcia and David Nelson,” Robert Hunter wrote. “Everyone who knows their work and is fortunate enough to hear this record will know what I mean. What a trio you’d all have made! The singing is steady and strong. Jerry would approve, I’m certain.”

Jesse recently headlined the "The Wheel -- A Musical Celebration of Jerry Garcia" at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Below are a couple live performances from this show of songs from Songs of the Grateful Dead.





Links:
Jesse McReynolds

Joan Osborne - City Winery, NYC 4-14-10

I made my first visit to City Winery earlier this week to catch the second of two sold-out shows by Joan Osborne.

I haven't seen Joan Osborne live since an early club show when Relish was first released (and "One of Us" was getting played to death on the local 'modern rock' station). In watching Joan's live show now fifteen years later, the radio stations back in the 90's may have latched onto the 'wrong' song. Joan's set on Wednesday night featured more roots/blues oriented songs which were closer in comparison to artists like Bonnie Raitt than anything 'modern rock'. If anything, Joan's voice has gotten stronger over the years and she has a solid band that complements her vocal stylings well.



I didn't keep a set list during the 90+ minute set but noted some of the highlights:
- "Brokedown Palace"; a Grateful Dead cover which Joan introduced as a song she rehearsed with the Dead but never sang live
- "Long Black Coat"; a Bob Dylan cover which is back in the setlist after a multi-year absence
- "St. Theresa"; one of my favorites from Relish
- "Spiderweb"; played as a slow, funky jam
- "Hallelujah in the City"; incredible vocals
- "What Became of the Brokenhearted"; a Jimmy Ruffin/Motown cover from the mid-60's

Joan also road-testing some new material and had two new songs in the set.

I really enjoyed City Winery as well as both the sound and the sight lines were great. What I especially appreciated is that the service was attentive without being intrusive. As such, I've subsequently joined City Winery's Vinofile club (which gets you no service fees on tickets) and have bought tickets for the upcoming Suzanne Vega/Lloyd Cole show next month.

Joan Osborne is playing a limited set of shows over the next few months and here are the upcoming tour dates:

Apr. 16, 2010 -- Tupelo Music Hall Londonerry, New Hampshire
Apr. 17, 2010 -- Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury, Massachusetts
Apr. 24, 2010 -- Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds, Washington
Jun. 13, 2010 -- Riverbend Festival: Tennesse Valley Stage, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Jul. 10, 2010 -- Vancouver Island Musicfest: Courtenay Exhibition Grounds, Courtenay, British Columbia
Jul. 24, 2010 -- Churchill Downs - HullaBalou Festival, Louisville, Kentucky

Links:
Joan Osborne