Customer Reviews

Donna Jean & The Tricksters

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Donna Jean Godchaux was not everybodys favorite in her years with the Grateful Dead, and occasionally she did sound somewhat shrill and slightly offkey. But on her good nights she certainly added a beautiful feminine touch to the band, just listen to "Live At Cow Palace" or "The Closing Of Winterland".

She also wrote some fine songs to the band, like "Sunrise", so it's really great to have her back full scale, in great form and with a magnificent band. As the name suggets primary comprised of members from The Zen Tricksters, a jamband renowned for its G.D. - covers, led by the brilliant guitarist Jeff Mattson. Added is also the fine keyboardplayer Mookie Siegel, who has played with both Phil Lesh & Friends and Bob Weir's RatDog. So Grateful Dead is really in the air.

So Grateful Dead is really in the air and no surprise that this is a deadheads delight. What might surprise some though are the high quality of the selfcomposed material, ranging from soul to bluegrass to world beat: the fine "Weight Of The World". And even incorporating strings one one of the tracks "He Said She Said". But the highlight is of course the 13 min. "Me And Joe Kettle", jamband music at its finest.

A must for deadheads and jamfans. And lovers of downright great music.

I was never a huge Donna fan with the Dead, but this is a terrific album. The band achieves something the Dead never pulled off - studio quality production, with an honestly live jam vibe. The extended jams on these songs are worthy of the Dead or the Allman Bros., and sometimes remind me of classic Little Feat. But there is nothing retro about this band, they have thier own sound and it is an original. Amazing keyboards! The production value is just unbelievable. Great album.

The debut Donna Jean and the Tricksters CD is a delight to listen to. It stayed in my CD player for weeks. I've followed Donna from her Dead days and also had the Kieth & Donna album back in the day. She has a great voice and a wealth of talent. Her latest doesn't disappoint! Get it!.

Donna & the Tricksters' CD rocks & coos. "No Better Way" bubbles with Jeff Mattson's searing lead guitar and rousing background vocals. "Weight of the World" throbs with percussion bubbling like nouveau Santana, "Hegemony is a four-letter word, to think we own it all is totally absurd." [I had to look up "hegemony": leadership, predominance.] "Travelin' Light" bounces like a classic Stax/Volt track. "He Said/She Said" combines an unusual counter-melody to create tension as the arrangements flits into bluegrass & jazz. "Me & Kettle Joe" rocks out before moving into an extended jam. The CD concludes with "Reno," an old-style rocker. Donna & the Tricksters sound like they'd be a killer live band. Their CD bursts with energy and is eminently listenable. Enjoy.

Donna Jean & the Tricksters have made a great debut album. This CD will make you happy, cause you to dance and twirl. Its a jam band masterpiece.

Give it a listen and own it! You'll be glad you did!

Peace,
Edje