GarciaLive Vol. 6: July 5th, 1973 - Lion's Share

Garcia's guitar work is masterfully full of virtuosity in just about every song especially on the extended jams. John Kahn's bass playing is also the usual brilliant display of more than just that of a supporting root note player keeping time. Merl is also great and Bill Vitt on drums is solid and has many moments of amazing playing as well. The highlights include great extended improvisations on "The System" "My Funny Valentine", with great trumpet playing, "Merl's Tune" and "Lions Share Jam", with an unfortunate fade out. Another highlight includes an all-time great version of "That's Alright Mama" with Jerry shredding classic rock and roll like the guitar genius he is known to be. Some fans of Garcia fail to truly appreciate horn players when they get involved with the music. At times on this recording the sound is full out Jazz especially on "My Funny Valentine", this is what Jerry Garcia was all about, playing any and every type of music with various musicians at any time. Garcia was an extremely eclectic musician and the only way to truly appreciate his genius is to embrace and enjoy his many different inviting types of musical endeavors and this release is definitely one to embrace. While the song "Like A Road" may not be an all-time great version and shows sings of trepidation, it is a building block for the amazing version on the Keystone release by Saunders and Garcia. Any serious Garcia fan knows Jerry's work with Merl was music to behold and appreciate for a lifetime. This release gets better with repeating listening especially the longer songs, Garcia was a musical genius and this recording more than verifies this.

Tracklist:Disc One:1. After Midnight2. Someday Baby3. She’s Got Charisma ->4. That’s All Right, MamaDisc Two:1. The System2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down3. I Second That Emotion4. My Funny Valentine5. Finders KeepersDisc Three:1. Money Honey2. Like A Road3. Merl’s Tune ->4. Lion’s Share Jam5. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

If you are like me and listened to a "gazillion" Grateful Dead shows and albums as well as Jerry's catalog of solo shows and albums, you may think "I've already heard this before". Well, I have great news for you, this music sounds new, clear, with tight grooves between all the band members but especially Jerry and Merl. If you are a fan of Jerry or just interested in listening to some great music, pick this up today. You will not be disappointed. I hear something new each time I listen to it and this is coming from a fan who has "heard it all" throughout Jerry's evolution and phases/changes. Peace and enjoy!

This latest set is from 1973 at the Lion's Share, a small club in Northern Ca., one of several places Garcia and various friends played gigs because Garcia always seemed to want to play for people. This was recorded just before the well known Keystone volumes that were finally released in a box set. The band is Garcia-guitar/vocals, John Kahn-bass, Bill Vitt-drums, and Merl Saunders-keyboards. You'll also hear an occasional unidentified trumpet player on some tunes in the second set. Some people will like the slightly jazz-like feel the trumpet brings to the music, others may find it intrusive--to each his own. The sound is similar to previously recorded releases in this series, notably because Betty Cantor-Jackson (of "Betty Board" fame) was on the recording desk. But this is a "work" tape, not a multi-track tape, so there's a slight difference inherent in the source. The packaging is similar to previous releases in this series.This gig is mostly made up of songs familiar to long time fans. The first set is "After Midnight", "Someday Baby>She's Got Charisma", "That's All Right Mama", "The System", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". The second set is "I Second That Emotion", "My Funny Valentine", "Finders Keepers", "Money Honey", "Like A Road>Merl's Tune", "Jam", and "How Sweet It Is".But like always, the song titles don't tell the whole story. With the solid rhythm section of Kahn and Vitt, Garcia (especially) and Saunders add their organic touches to these tunes, with Garcia's guitar spooling out longish solos and Saunders getting a chance to show his stuff on several lengthy tunes. And along with Garcia's plaintive vocals they stamp these tunes with their own sound. It must've been quite something to sit in a small club with a band like this, hearing old favorites along with a few newer tunes. All in all--for fans of Garcia--this is another good set of playing from one of Garcia's "other" bands. After 1973 Garcia, Kahn, and Saunders would go on to form Legion of Mary, which can be heard on the "Garcia Live Vol. 3" release.Fans of the Garcia Band will find more of that band's relaxed, easy-going sound here. And with varied set lists this is another nice, organically unwinding, addition to add to your shelf of Garcia's work outside his main gig. And don't forget the 2 CD set (with Tom Fogerty) from the Lion's Share from 1972, which has more good things from this band. Good stuff.

It goes without saying, first of all I love these Jerry releases, I always loved the Jerry bands. This is the deepest of the Garcia Live releases and what a great place to, to those wonderful Jerry and Merle Saunders shows. We who love Jerry have those Keystone shows in our collection for years and this is a welcome addition. A nice mix of instrumentals and some vocals. All the standards are here, I love My Funny Valentine they jam out on most of the songs showing how much these guys loved to play together.

Excellent show. The horn player took me a little getting used to but dig it now!My only minor quibble is this is the first of the series that is NOT mastered in HDCD. Volumes 1 through 5 are mastered in HDCD. I realize to 99% of users this doesn't matter but there are a few of us that have players that decode HDCDs, and it does add a slight edge to the reproduction of live recordings.

All of these Garcia live CDs are awesome. Get them all. You will not be disappointed. I mean it's Jerry Garcia... how did it not be awesome.