Customer Reviews

Live at Keystone, Vol. 2

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This CD is the best of all 3 Keystone releases. Period. If you are gonna get one, get this one. "Like a Road" drips with emotion and "Funny Valentine" is very jazzy, loose, and will impress any music fan. Worth the price for just these 2 tracks alone.

When this double LP was released way back in 1973, it had a bit of an impact in: "Jerry-Land". Translation: It was like Moses bringing the tablets down...We, had 2 records of live Jerry, at last!

Vol. 2 of "Live at the Keystone" is the second part of that original double record,and it's the best part. Jerry & Merl. are outta the gate with: "That's All Right Mama" at a breakness pace. It sounds like a boot-stompin' show opener, and what comes to life on this re-master, is the bass guitar of John Kahn. Mr. Kahn, has been brought-up in the mix and is much more in the fore-front here....Kahn is incredible! The jazz standard: "My Funny Valentine" at 18 minutes is quite an musical journey. Jerry's amazing solo's come from sideways and they twist & turn all around the main melody...BUT, they are focused and spot-on. To understand Jerry as an "Jazzman", begin here. Also, there is some deep space explored herein, and it's all over too soon.

Track No. 3: "Someday Baby", gives Merl the funk spotlight, and you KNOW that Jerry's got one of those big grins on his face, during this One. It's an groovetune...nice. On the original record: "Like a Road", was the closing number, and this was my favorite selection of the entire set. If you like what The Dead does during a choice live: "Morning Dew", this cut is gonna knock you flat. It's one of Jerry's finest moments EVER, the solos are the grail....

The bonus track is: "Mystery Train" and it's welcome here. The drumming of Bill Vitt, drives this one along, this is 50's Rockabilly, meeting up with seventies jamming, and it's a fine mizture of styles.

"Keystone Vol II", is MUST-OWN, Jerry Garcia. This was a great period for Jerry. Some of his best playing anywhere is right here on this CD. This artist had music comin' outta his pores, and this CD is the proof. Rock,jazz,blues,funk,soul,space and taste...This is a: Five-Star CD!

Live At Keystone, Vol. 2 highlights two of the most fabulous muscicans of the 20th century. Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders share the pinnacle of their careers on this funky live album. Both products of the San Francisco counter culture, Saunders and Garcia colaborated many times during the 70's and 80's at the famous Keystone Auditorium. The two effortlessly bounce their electric emotions off of eachother throughout the entire album. Saunders and Garcia jam out almost every track on the album, and their raport with the audience can be heared in the background. Live At Keystone, Vol. 2 is an album that cannot be passed up by music lovers of any kind.

My favorite Keystone album but I prefer longer improvisation to the shorter pop songs. If the Dead/Jerry can be boring to you go for Vol. 1, Well-Matched, Keepers, or Encores first. I like the Dead better but this is great stuff especially to provide relaxing casual vibe to atmospere. Self Indulgent for the musicians---exactly the way I like it!

This series of KeyStone releases are simply some of the best playing and jamming Jerry and Merl have ever layed down and captured on tape... For Jerry, the song selections gave him a chance to really display the variety of playing styles and pure chops IN each style that he would go on to perfect and make his own. Outstanding, pure Strat sound, not much in the way of effects,, Clean........... On VOL. 2 take note.....What Frank Sinatra could do with his voice on the Standard "My Funny Valentine",,,, Jerry does with a guitar.. Amazing notes, patterns, chords....AND Very few bands can take an 18 minute song and make you wish it went on a little longer..., Good stuff. Hearing these releases makes me realize I was never really a Dead Head, I was always jonesing for Jerry's infinite ability to take you to places you've never musically been and not likely to ever be reached by most other guitar players...

Jerry & Merl (or Merl & Jerry, to be fair) are really tight in the 3 Keystone CDs. The music quality is superb as well. A different take on Jerry Garcia. I bought all 3 and I am glad I did.

That's All Right, Mama - Rocking
My Funny Valentine - a jazz twist, Merl, Jerry & John each offer up excellent performances
Someday Baby - good and funky material

GET ALL 3 FROM THIS SERIES - YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED!

Best get Volume One and the Encore also. I saw one of these sessions many years ago and it is as good as I remember.

if you love jerry & his solo project sound, you need this for your colloection.