favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

This show is amazing! This matrix is off the chain, one of the greatest matrices I’ve heard in the archive. The Playin is EPIC, of the most masterful order. They are master craftsmen at their trade and they are all hewing a sonic, psychedelic masterpiece. Not just the epic Playin, but the whole show is culled from primordial, acid Jazz drenched mind melting music. If only Ornette Coleman would’ve been inclined to play with them on this night rather than in the latter days when in his words “they just weren’t listening to each other like they used to” (from the recent Documentary ‘What a long strange trip)).



But back to this this matrix once again should be heralded as a true masterpiece - Thank You Hunter Seamons!



Back to the music. Each member is playing of the highest order and they are all locked in with the equivalent of musical telepathy as I’ve ever heard. This Playin could give serious jazz musicians a run for their money for chops. The “Playin” is stellar. Jerry is psyched all the way through. Bobby is layin the rhythmic ground for him and doing so masterfully. Phil seems at times to steer the song (and the band) through several curves or psychedelic geologic formations that only he and the band and all who are along for their ride can perceive as this psychedelic highway unfolds for the listener/rider. It seems like the band is alright with the directions that Jerry and Phil steer this psychedelic vehicle (whether it be car, truck, bike, boat, ship, hot air balloon, dirigible, airplane, rocket or spaceship) almost as if Jerry was like alright I’ll go there with you...let’s see where we can take this thing and the rest just enhance it and “GROK” it and add their own amazingness to make it more of an acid jazz masterpiece. Of particular note and not mentioned by anyone else yet is the tremendous Fender Rhodes keyboard Playin of Keith on this Playin, he could easily give Joe Zawinul or Herbie Hancock a run for their money, another reason this show and tune is a masterpiece.



For some reason I’ve been listening to every show in order for the last couple of years and each era has something different to offer each listener, I’m not any more partial to ‘67, ‘69, 72, 73 74 or 77 or for that matter anything by these guys in any era, including the new stuff with John Mayer (yes I’ll say it, they are sounding great with him. The most authentic, Post Jerry versions of the Dead to date, check them out). I’ve read all reviews of all versions of this show and I can’t perceive how anyone could find a con to this Playin (Even the caterwauling of Donna (authentic and powerful in a Ma Rainey kind of way) and her epic harmonies) it is mind bending, like a psychedelic epic journey to an acid jazz plane of reality. Well to each their own, but this is about as good as it gets and followed by what is only the like 6th or 7th time US Blues was played in its newly retooled album and radio friendly glory (I know someone will fact check me on that) and a solid version of this. They are fully on and locked in on this one. Sure there are other amazing shows out there but this one is among those that are of the ages. Plus if Dr. Flashback and NJPG live for this show then you know it’s a masterful show. Wish I was old enough to have been there. RIP Jerry, Thanks CM for the cleaned up aud portion and HS for this smooth and amazing matrix and thanks to the Archive and the GD for allowing this to exist, proliferate and continue to inspire the future generations (I’ve got my kids listening and playing to this one and other shows too, music teachers could do worse having young students learn from the archive but I digress). Peace y’all!

- February 20, 2018Epic!