Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit Cover ‘Dark Star’ For Jerry Garcia

The Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit reunion tour continued last night at the Ogden Theatre in Denver. Hampton and his ensemble ended the evening by honoring the late
Jerry Garcia who would have turned 73 yesterday had he not passed away. Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue Unit jammed on “Dark Star” for nearly 15 minutes as last night’s encore. The group had never performed the Grateful Dead cover previously.

Since ARU’s ’90s glory days guitarist Jimmy Herring has gone on to tour with members of The Dead following a stint in Jazz Is Dead, so he’s no stranger to the Grateful Dead. Herring’s emotional shredding was on display throughout ARU’s “Dark Star.” Drummer Jeff Sipe has also been a member of GD tribute act Jazz Is Dead and played Jerry Garcia orchestral tributes with Warren Haynes, while bassist Oteil Burbridge has reportedly been studying up on the Dead’s music. Col. Bruce sat the encore out.

Take a listen thanks to taper Bennett Schwartz: