Search - Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia :: Keystone Encores

Jerry and Merl jams

K. Cooper | Phila. area | 03/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's a number of discs out with Jerry and Merl and this is just one of them. Loose jams here with good Jerry renditions of the few numbers on the disc. Not his best and hot his worst. One complaint is that the material is released over various discs instead of one set. The Dead rarely do this but for some reason, this came out piecemeal."

Funk & Fire

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 09/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Third CD from the July 73 Shows recorded at The Keystone, Berkeley contains extra tracks that did not appear on the Original Double LP Set.

Jerry and Merl along with John Kahn & Bill Vitt, bring it all back again for this 6 Track, 52 Minute "Extra" Disc of Performances from this Legendary Stand. In this setting Jerry gets a Chance to Tackle: Soul, R&B and Old Standards, as only he can. What Merl brings to the Event: Soul...(The real 50's-60's Stuff...Memphis, Chicago & Detroit), the way Jerry & Merl play off each other is a thing of Beauty. This Music was SOOO Different from the Dead, (Think: "Mars Hotel) that it gave Jerry a Place to be Somebody completly removed from the Rock World. He Loved this setting and his Playing here is: BIG...It's easy to hear how much Fun he was having with this Band in this little Club.





It all begins with: "Hi-Heel Sneakers", with It's Snakey Lines and Pure Funk Undertones, Jerry fires off some Tasty Leads and his Singing sounds very relaxed. Merl gets to Shine as well with a Nice Solo that fits the Groove perfectly. Next up is: "It's Too Late", and this Torch-Ballad is handled with Care with Some Great Vocals by Mr. Garcia, and he digs in Deep with his Solo, as does Merl once again...The Blues meets Soul, and they both Win. "I Second That Emotion" puts Jerry right into Motown, and he puts his "Jerry-Stamp" on this Chestnut, (I wonder what Pigpen would have sounded on this one?). The Band dives into The Blues on: "One Kind Favor" that the Grateful Dead was known to Play way back in 1966. As I have never heard the GD version, this will do for the Ages. With it's Cowboy Swing and Crackin' Leads, it is Dead-like, but again with Merl added on it becomes More, this is my Favorite Track on "Encores", it's real Cool!



"Money Honey" & "How Sweet It Is", close out this Disc. "Money" is Jerry's take on Elvis ( A "Relaxed" Elvis ) and is carried by some Great Guitar Work (look out James Burton!).To cap it off: "How Sweet It Is" is a Good Gospel Workout for the Band, with Jerry belting it out in fine form. This Tune would be Featured in JGB Shows until the end, but this early version is indeed 'Sweet'.



The "Keystone Trilogy" shows another side of Jerry Garcia and his Playing. Yes, this Music is very different from GD Music, but it is always as good as that Band's best. As an Owner of the Double LP from 73, it's Good to hear this one Re-Mixed, (Check out the Bass, it's now Up-Front), and the Extra Tracks are welcome as well. Any CD Collection is NOT complete until you own all three of The Keystone CD's.

"

Sounds Great!

Benjamin Snyder | WV, USA | 11/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"if you love jerry & his solo sound, you need to get this for your collection today."