Throwback Thursday | Branford Marsalis Jams With Furthur

One of the big, though unsurprising, stories of the week was the official announcement that Furthur has disbanded. The band featured Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead joined by keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, drummer Joe Russo, guitarist John Kadlecik and vocalists Sunshine Becker and Jeff Pehrson. For today’s Throwback Thursday we look back at the night the band jammed with legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis at Red Rocks in September of 2013.

Marsalis won his way into Deadheads’ hearts with the passionate sax work he laid down as a guest of the Grateful Dead at five shows in the ’90s. The Branford/Grateful Dead connection has been maintained over the years by occasionally sitting in with post-Jerry projects, which leads us to September 22, 2013 when Marsalis took the stage as a guest of Furthur at Red Rocks.

Furthur’s Sunday performance at the iconic venue was their fourth of four shows in Morrison, Colorado that kicked off the band’s 2013 fall tour. Branford emerged early in the second set and stayed on stage for the rest of the evening with the exception of one tune. Branford lent his talents to such horn-ready songs as “Eyes Of The World,” “Let It Grow,” “Dark Star” and the “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower” triumvirate. The saxophonist returned with Furthur for the encore as the ensemble bid the Red Rocks faithful farewell with “Brokedown Palace.”

Watch fan-shot video of the whole show via evenstev:

Here’s audio of Furthur’s show featuring Marsalis thanks to Chuck Miller:

Set One: Samson & Delilah, Foolish Heart > Black Throated Wind, Brown-Eyed Women, The Music Never Stopped > New Speedway Boogie, Deal

Set Two: Weather Report Suite > Let It Grow* > Eyes Of The World* > Dark Star Verse 2* > The Other One > Morning Dew* > Help On The Way* > Slipknot!* > Franklin’s Tower*

Encore: Brokedown Palace*

* -w/ Branford Marsalis