Dave McMurray Offers Another ‘Grateful Deadication’ & Shares ‘Scarlet Begonias’ Featuring Oteil Burbridge

Saxophonist Dave McMurray will release Grateful Deadication 2, a sequel to his 2021 Grateful Dead tribute album, on May 19 through Blue Note Records. Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge is featured on lead vocals on the first single, a jazzed-up cover of “Scarlet Begonias.”

McMurray once again worked with fellow Detroit-based musicians on the nine-track Grateful Deadication 2. Accompanying the saxophonist was guitarist Wayne Gerard, keyboardist Maurice O’Neal, pianist Luis Resto, bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady and percussionist Larry Fratangelo.

“My most recent journey into Grateful Dead world began when my Detroit band and I traveled to Clubhouse Studios in Upstate New York,” McMurray stated. “It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by lots of open land, and filled with vintage equipment. With master engineer Elliot Scheiner in tow, and four days and nights with only creating music on the brain, the vibe was just right. The result is a dark, sparse, emotional ride into the minds of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and the Grateful Dead… Detroit style.”

Along with Burbridge, other guests who contributed to the pending release include country singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson, jazz keyboardist Bob James, pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz and bassist Don Was. Both Leisz and Was perform with Burbridge’s Dead & Co bandmate, co-founding Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, as part of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. McMurray was also a member of Was (Not Was) with Was.

Regarding his first experience with the music of the Grateful Dead, McMurray stated

“The long-form, odd measures and complex chords of the music hooked me immediately. I noticed the songs had great melodies yet held the openness of Miles Davis’ Electric Period. The music was catchy, psychedelic, raw, with the idea that nobody solos/everybody solos—akin to Weather Report. The more I listened, the more I knew these songs would eventually become a vehicle for my jazz expression.”

Featuring Burbridge on lead vocals, stream Dave McMurray’s cover of “Scarlet Begonias” below:

Grateful Deadication 2 Tracklist

1. Playing in the Band
2. China Cat Sunflower
3. Bird Song
4. To Lay Me Down feat. Jamey Johnson
5. Truckin’
6. The Other One feat. Bob James
7. If I Had the World to Give feat. Bob James
8. Scarlet Begonias feat. Oteil Burbridge
9. Crazy Fingers