GarciaLive Volume Nine presents Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders’ August 11th, 1974 performance at Keystone in Berkeley, CA. Joining Garcia & Saunders this evening were John Kahn on bass, Martin Fierro on saxophone & flute and the Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann on drums. As the site of over 200 performances by Garcia in various configurations, the Keystone Berkeley stage likely felt more like an extension of the Saunders’ family garage where the group would often practice. It was a space without pressure or pretense — one in which they could freely experiment with arrangements, new repertoire and, most of all, just jam.
Saunders’ influence on Garcia’s musical development is plainly heard on GarciaLive Volume Nine. As Garcia once noted in an interview, "[Saunders] filled me in on all those years of things I didn’t do. I’d never played any standards; I’d never played in dance bands. I never had any approach to the world of regular, straight music. He knew all the standards, and he taught me how bebop works. He taught me music.” While the evening’s setlist focuses primarily on standards, the approach is anything but regular or straight. A free-spirited version of The Four Tops’s R&B classic “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”, one of the evening’s easy highlights, showcases Garcia & Saunders' ability to reimagine standards through inventive arrangements and fiery virtuosity permeated with soul. Other standouts from this performance include a surging “(I’m A) Roadrunner” and an extended take on Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” which clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.
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Tracklist: Disc 1 — Set 1:
1.) That’s What Love Will Make You Do
2.) La La
3.) It Ain’t No Use
4.) Mystery Train
Disc 2 — Set 2:
1.) The Harder They Come
2.) Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)
3.) It’s Too Late
4.) (I’m A) Road Runner
5.) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
GarciaLive Volume Nine presents Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders’ August 11th, 1974 performance at Keystone in Berkeley, CA. Joining Garcia & Saunders this evening were John Kahn on bass, Martin Fierro on saxophone & flute and the Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann on drums. As the site of over 200 performances by Garcia in various configurations, the Keystone Berkeley stage likely felt more like an extension of the Saunders’ family garage where the group would often practice. It was a space without pressure or pretense — one in which they could freely experiment with arrangements, new repertoire and, most of all, just jam.
Saunders’ influence on Garcia’s musical development is plainly heard on GarciaLive Volume Nine. As Garcia once noted in an interview, "[Saunders] filled me in on all those years of things I didn’t do. I’d never played any standards; I’d never played in dance bands. I never had any approach to the world of regular, straight music. He knew all the standards, and he taught me how bebop works. He taught me music.” While the evening’s setlist focuses primarily on standards, the approach is anything but regular or straight. A free-spirited version of The Four Tops’s R&B classic “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”, one of the evening’s easy highlights, showcases Garcia & Saunders' ability to reimagine standards through inventive arrangements and fiery virtuosity permeated with soul. Other standouts from this performance include a surging “(I’m A) Roadrunner” and an extended take on Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” which clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.
Out of stock? Get notified when this item is restocked.
Tracklist: Disc 1 — Set 1:
1.) That’s What Love Will Make You Do
2.) La La
3.) It Ain’t No Use
4.) Mystery Train
Disc 2 — Set 2:
1.) The Harder They Come
2.) Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)
3.) It’s Too Late
4.) (I’m A) Road Runner
5.) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
When I saw the 20 minute Harder They Come, I decided I needed this one.
Tom Trent
August 21, 2023
I heard Jerry & Merl countless times when I worked at Keystone Berkeley 1973-76 behind the bar. This is special because it includes Martin on tenor sax. Classic jazzy jams embellishing lyrical songs. Fabulous rock in’ out on Mystery Train and Road Runner. So pleased to have this personal memory.
Neal Fisher
August 18, 2021
Excellent concert. A couple of songs are quite jazzy. Merle is great. I especially enjoyed John Kahn on the bass. The flute and sax by Martin Fiero is interesting and enjoyable. Kreutzman is great and Jerry is Jerry.
Timothy vadneau
September 6, 2019
Item received, packaging well done, shipping speed was lightning fast. Product very well made. Overall outstanding service. Much better than Dead.net! Many thanks!
PE
August 21, 2019
My favorite LGB release! It's very free flowing, and loose. It does not lack a single bit of Jerry's technical prowess. Love the track listing. There are so many of the best versions of the tunes. Only bad thing I could say is that my Windows Media Player didn't recognize it. Oh well. Still the best JGB.
Melanie Thomas
August 21, 2019
Another great JGB show! Keep 'em coming.
John Schembari
February 20, 2019
Great CD. I have all in the series. Only problem is that disc 1 digital track listing of songs is wrong.
Steve
February 28, 2018
Absolutely LOVE this release and the fluid extended jams these explorers get into. Must have a been a great scene back in the day at the Keystone. In my opinion there are a few complete WTF moments from Fierro that just seem like he lost the handle, but somehow that just reminded me that what Jerry brought, in all his forms (Dead, JGB, Grisman etc), was dedication to the moment. And sometimes maybe you have to hit a few clunker notes to get to the promised land. All in all this one is solid! Highly recommend
Bischoff
December 19, 2017
So many great lineups with JGB over the years/decades. The Martin Fierro years/shows are always a treat. The nuances of the flute and various sounds of the saxophone - imo he could have easily been a permanent member of the band! Merl has always been amazing -- under appreciated in the music world -- loved and cherished fans of the Band, but not recognized enough (again my opinion) in 'mainstream' (whatever that means). The 73-75 years are some of my favorites - long, drawn out musical journeys, keep putting them out. I couldn't imagine seeing them at the Keystone - capacity of 500-600, like seeing Jerry in a bar!! I saw the Band at Kaiser in 87, I thought that was a nice small venue, but 500 people, those must have been some fun times. Anyway, my review---you can not go wrong purchasing Jerry shows from 1974!
Karen N.
November 15, 2017
This will be a Christmas gift for my husband. As such, it hasn't yet been opened, but I am sure it will be a great cd to listen to in the car or at home.
Robert Sandor
October 17, 2017
Please release all the Grisman/Garcia Shows ASAP!!!
John Calarco
October 16, 2017
Jerry, Bill Kreutzmann, Merle Saunders, Martin Fierro and John Kahn are so totally on the same page musically that these recorded jams appear to be effortless and fantastic. I've been listening to them a lot. Garcia Live Volume Nine is super!
Michael
October 13, 2017
So happy with this release! Another amazing addition to the Garcia Live series. Awesome Jerry and Merle show - check it out!
James G.
October 13, 2017
I often find reviews to be self-serving; someone wants to make a point and be heard. To me they are also often either overly effusive or incredibly harsh. An artist puts his or her work out there and you can enjoy it or not. I love Jerry and his music and I also admired his work ethic and his devotion to the music and the craft. What the estate is doing with his collection carries on his commitment to be ever evolving and faithful to the music. I also really like that the CDs I get are so beautifully mastered and that the show selection is so good. To this day the man still puts a smile on my face when I can hear and feel through the sound his excitement and enthusiasm with a lyric, note, or chord progression. So for me to “review” the releases in my mind is a disservice. Rather, I just love them and encourage anybody who wants to hear real, faithful, and genuine music to give them a try.
Mark Bires
October 13, 2017
Just the stellar Harder They Come followed by the lyric-less but one of the greatest long Jerry jams ever Ain't No Woman are worth the price of admission.