Search - Jerry Garcia, David Grisman :: So What

Good, but not a milestone

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 04/17/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While this cd is good (with moments of greatness) and may well re-ignite the jazz fires of fairweather jazz fans, I find that it loses something with repeated listenings. I bought it shortly after it was released a couple years ago so I have now listened to it many times and while Grisman (and Kerwin and Craven from his quintet) himself is great on this, Jerry's playing seems to be less interesting with each listen.Being more of a "jazz fan" than the average Deadhead is, I am less inclined to just automatically think that a piece of music is fantastic just because Jerry is a part of it. For anyone who has ever heard David Grisman play these tunes with his other part-time guitar buddy, MARTIN TAYLOR, the versions on this cd may seem rather lackluster I suspect (from a guitar standpoint). The arrangements here are great, and Kerwin and Grisman in-particular give wonderful performances but if Grisman and Martin Taylor ever take this exact same setlist into the studio it will result in a better album than this.I do recommend buying it, it certainly has it's moments and I don't regret purchasing it in any way. I just think that if you only have money for one or two cd's and you're looking to buy some Grisman-related "string swing" or "acoustic stringed-jazz" that you'll be better off purchasing TONE POEMS 2 or I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT. Or the 2-disk OSCAR ALEMAN set that Grisman's ACOUSTIC DISC label released. If you have the money for several cd's, purchase all of the above, SO WHAT included.And as is the ACOUSTIC DISC way, this cd is a sonically perfect recording... warm, rich tones are captured from all the instruments."

A Great Jam

Tim Jeter | VA | 06/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am no scholar of Grisman / Garcia collaborations. I am a collector of bop jazz and like my music of the straight ahead no compromises variety. Given that , I really get into this CD. There is something on this recording that any jazz person will like. Dead heads may complain they have heard better , but it is to my taste. Cool music."

Jazz Meets String Music

Jinglebell Rainbow | 09/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is A Great CD. Garcia Grisman and company are improvising effertlessly. If you are a Jazz fan than is is a must have. Improvising at its very, very best. There are some repeats but the songs are so great that it is a bonus. Garcia's solos while not mind blowing are steady and inventive. Grisman is all over the place. The bass playing in excellent as are the percussion intruments. The Grisman original 16/16 fits right in with the Miles Davis and Milt Jackson songs. This Cd would make those two Jazz giants smile no question about it."