GarciaLive Volume 15: May 21st, 1971 Keystone Korner finds Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders in the middle of their first multi-night run at the vaulted San Francisco club. The previously uncirculated two-set performance was mixed and mastered from 4-track analog reels.
With John Kahn thought to be on another gig in Southern California, Garcia, Saunders, and drummer Bill Vitt shift to an organ trio configuration with Merl’s left hand ably rounding out the rhythm section. Saxophonist and future Garcia/Saunders & Legion of Mary bandmate Martin Fierro joins the fold, his first known performance with Garcia/Saunders, on 5 songs pushing the group to dizzying heights. Saunders noted the early performances with Garcia were often loose, free-spirited affairs, and that’s clearly the case here. The show opening “Man-Child” sets the tone with a 17-minute heavily improvised, funky jazz-fusion romp, while the self-described “Keystone Korner Jam” is (as best we can tell) a completely improvised adventure that takes the group into uncharted territory.
Click Additional Details for more info and tracklist
Out of stock? Get notified when this item is restocked.
Set Two offers more of the same with an incendiary take on Saunders’s original “Save Mother Earth” that tips the 25-minute mark to open the set. The highlight of the night, however, may be the only known Garcia-led performance of David Crosby’s “The Wall Song.” Immortalized on both the Planet Earth Rock and Roll sessions and Graham Nash & David Crosby’s self-titled release, Garcia carries the lead vocals here and, along with Fierro, drives the performance into a furious jam that punctuates the evening… so much so that you won’t even notice the slight edit necessary to make up for the untimely reel change. While Saunders is credited with teaching Garcia “regular, straight” music, there’s certainly no evidence of anything mundane here.
Disc One // Set One:
1. Man-Child
2. One Kind Favor
3. I Know It’s A Sin
4. I Was Made To Love Her
5. Keystone Korner Jam
6. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Disc Two // Set Two:
1. Save Mother Earth
2. That’s All Right
3. The Wall Song
4. Mystery Train
GarciaLive Volume 15: May 21st, 1971 Keystone Korner finds Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders in the middle of their first multi-night run at the vaulted San Francisco club. The previously uncirculated two-set performance was mixed and mastered from 4-track analog reels.
With John Kahn thought to be on another gig in Southern California, Garcia, Saunders, and drummer Bill Vitt shift to an organ trio configuration with Merl’s left hand ably rounding out the rhythm section. Saxophonist and future Garcia/Saunders & Legion of Mary bandmate Martin Fierro joins the fold, his first known performance with Garcia/Saunders, on 5 songs pushing the group to dizzying heights. Saunders noted the early performances with Garcia were often loose, free-spirited affairs, and that’s clearly the case here. The show opening “Man-Child” sets the tone with a 17-minute heavily improvised, funky jazz-fusion romp, while the self-described “Keystone Korner Jam” is (as best we can tell) a completely improvised adventure that takes the group into uncharted territory.
Click Additional Details for more info and tracklist
Out of stock? Get notified when this item is restocked.
Set Two offers more of the same with an incendiary take on Saunders’s original “Save Mother Earth” that tips the 25-minute mark to open the set. The highlight of the night, however, may be the only known Garcia-led performance of David Crosby’s “The Wall Song.” Immortalized on both the Planet Earth Rock and Roll sessions and Graham Nash & David Crosby’s self-titled release, Garcia carries the lead vocals here and, along with Fierro, drives the performance into a furious jam that punctuates the evening… so much so that you won’t even notice the slight edit necessary to make up for the untimely reel change. While Saunders is credited with teaching Garcia “regular, straight” music, there’s certainly no evidence of anything mundane here.
Disc One // Set One:
1. Man-Child
2. One Kind Favor
3. I Know It’s A Sin
4. I Was Made To Love Her
5. Keystone Korner Jam
6. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Disc Two // Set Two:
1. Save Mother Earth
2. That’s All Right
3. The Wall Song
4. Mystery Train
Garcia Vol 15 This release totally rydes the wave of psychedelia
Red Bear
May 17, 2022
Rootsy release from the sonic journals of the past. Everything about this release is spectacular. Well done Garcia Estate!
Chris Rhine
April 26, 2022
I give it five stars. Some really impressive jamming with a fresh new vibe for Jerry. However, my wife is not enjoying it. She is more about the songs. She wants to hear vocals, not ten minutes of interplay among the band members. The moral of the story is, know who you are buying this for. If they want Sugaree, Reuben & Charice or Touch of Gray, this is not for them. If you are like me and just want to hear great jamming, enjoy.
Michael Kuelker
September 24, 2021
A very satisfying and historically important recording with jam aesthetics in full effect.
Doug
September 22, 2021
Great add to my Jerry collection. Had it on in the car and really enjoyed the tunes & the interplay between the guys.
Bill Perkins
August 5, 2021
Awesome show. Great recording a+++
Truly a gem
July 24, 2021
Playing on repeat for daze and daze now! Truly grateful for this release!
Joshua Good Energy
June 22, 2021
Finally!! Finally an early 70’s release. I find more enjoyment in the earlier years. To me its just more raw and looser improv. Just my opinion. Love this volume. Might be my favorite one yet!
Karen Dowling
January 20, 2021
Glad to have found this family putting out terrific live concerts from the past! thank goodness the music has been preserved. Ordered as soon as I heard one song on the GratefulDead hour and found out about this company. received order quickly and easily. and the CD is amazing and captures a precious time in Jerry's singing history. Love you!!
DL
December 16, 2020
Top 5 GarciaLive release!! One Kind Favor is worth the purchase alone. Hopefully, more from this era will turn up for later releases. (Still holding out for 3-6-1976 release) Thank you GFP for some amazing music, shirts, and posters
RobPete
December 9, 2020
OUTSTANDING!...these tracks are golden...hard to tell Mule is missing...and though I have learned to embrace Martin's sax (and regular, straight music), I would only ask for more Merl on these Garcia:Live releases...and less Fierro...
Eric C
December 9, 2020
Sound quality is amazing. Love the t-shirt, super comfy and fits well.
Mr B
December 8, 2020
Excellent recording - Fresh sound of early shows with a Jazzy touch 5 stars Not your typical J Garcia CD Highly recommended
David
November 29, 2020
Not what I expected but I am extremely happy with these DCs. I didn't know Jerry and Merl played jazz!! I would recommend this album.
Richard Hillenbrand
November 28, 2020
Excellent show. Amazing how tight they were so early in their tenure together. Early Jerry/Merl is hard to come by so this is a treasure.