In the mid-1970s friends and musical collaborators Jerry Garcia and David Grisman teamed up with Peter Rowan, John Kahn and Vassar Clements to form the bluegrass outfit Old & In The Way. The short-lived group was followed by the Grateful Dead guitarist and his talented mandolin-playing cohort forming the also short-lived Great American String Band with Taj Mahal, Richard Greene, Sandy Rothman, David Nichtern and Buell Neidinger. After a run of shows in 1974, Garcia and Dawg went their separate ways, and the pair who first met in 1964 would not share the live stage together again until 1990.
Back on December 17, 1990 the first Jerry Garcia & David Grisman billed show was held in Mill Valley, California at the original Sweetwater. The pair was joined by bassist Jim Kerwin and Joe Craven on percussion and violin for the duration of the 50 minute set. They opened with a cover of “The Thrill Is Gone” and played “When First Unto This Country” which they recorded for their children’s record Not For Kids Only.
The acoustic set also consisted of Grisman originals “Grateful Dawg” and “Dawg’s Waltz” as well as a take on Miles Davis’ “So What?” which would be the centerpiece of their 1998 album of the same name. Upgraded video footage of the entire 10-song show produced and directed by Jesse Block along with executive producer John Goddard and Village Music recently surfaced. Watch Jerry and Dawg’s onstage reunion from 25 years ago below:
Setlist (via JerryGarcia.com)
One Set: The Thrill is Gone, When First Unto This Country, Grateful Dawg, Spring In California, Off To Sea Once More, So What?, Two Soldiers, Dawg’s Waltz, Russian Lullaby
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