Customer Reviews

Shady Grove

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The last time I saw Jerry Garcia perform was in Golden Gate Park in the '60s & 'Pigpen' was still at the keyboard, so I admit to being a slacker of a 'Deadhead', but in my defense I always kept a few essential Grateful Dead albums in my collection, 'Workingman's Dead', 'American Beauty', etc. As the '60s faded, the drugs and psychedelia and 'happenings' wore thin for me, but what continued to interest me was Jerry's work outside the Dead, especially with Grisman, 'Old & In The Way' for example, and the wonderful 'Devout Catalyst' with Ken Nordine of 'Word Jazz' fame was awesome. So, I thought I was primed for 'Shady Grove' when it came out, but I wasn't. Shady Grove is the essence of Jerry Garcia, it's the root of his many-branched tree, the place he came from and never left, a clear pool from which his creativity sprang. His mastery of folk music goes beyond words like authentic, this recording is just plain old real! Until I heard 'Shady Grove' I had no idea what the world lost with Jerry Garcia's passing.

As I work my way through various Grisman & Garcia collabarations I continue to be astounded & elated. I am particularly taken w/this disc. It is as much a celebration of their musical powress as their friendship. This disc is the first of several volumes arranged by Grisman according to genre. These are traditional folk songs & ballads. Grisman is releasing them to showcase Garcia's musical depth & breadth. The same could be said of Grisman's artistry.Many of the songs here I heard for the first time but definitely not the last. The accompaning booklet is lovingly crafted. The history of each song is presented as are the lyrics. Grisman's & Garcia's friendship allow us to connect to a simpler & purer time that is very much a part of our legacy. As always the Acoustic Disc quality has to be heard to be fully appreciated.

This album is superb, from the opening title track to the surprise, unlisted piece at the end. Almost any one of the songs would by itself, in fact, justify buying the whole album. Many fans of the Grateful Dead will see a side of Jerry Garcia that they probably never knew about, and anyone who has even an iota of interest in traditional American and English music will see what real "folk" talent -- as opposed to the mountains of mediocrity and posing that came out of the sixties and seventies -- is really about. Like the music fan from Iowa, I found this to be an album that I can enjoy with my father, which is not surprising, because the music is truly timeless, as well as priceless. One can only lament the terrible loss that two entire musical traditions suffered when Jerry died, and hope that David Grisman has more of these beautiful recordings to offer his and Jerry's growing legion of fans.

My musical journey hasn't even reached a 2 digit number of years yet, but it's been quite profound so far. I count my album collection by the hundreds. I really truly love all the albums I own, but I've been blown away by an album only so little times. (Nevermind, Dark side of the Moon, Blue, Moon Safari).
Now - when I say blown away - I mean it. Literaly. Blown away, to me, means having to sit back and re-think everything you thought you knew about music and discovering a whole new genre, a new approach. Discovering you like something else. That's blown away, as far as I'm concerned. And this album definately blew the hell out of me.
I remember hearing it for the first time, on some early morning train ride, that went through the sun, through the rain, and back to sun light again. From that first string pluck to that very last "truly obnoxious instrument" monolog, I was simply amazed. I never thought I'd like country music, or anything related to it, for that matter.
And the whole atmosphere of the album - so relaxed, so free, so "we're here just for the fun of it. really" kind of feeling. I've only heard that feeling come out of one other album - "Traveling Wilburys Volume 1". The only thing David and Jerry wanted to get/achieve in these recordings was the shere pleasue of hearing each other play together, and the excitement of what the music may do while they play.
If you're a dead head, you'll probably get this album anyway. If you're not, if you only have a couple (or less) "dead" albums, then pick this one up. You're exactly where I was when i pressed that "play" button.

This is stunning! Garcia and Grisman at their best. I have always been a defender of Garcia's genious, and this recording proves it in an exciting and refreshing way. It's not just the same old "Dead" tunes one might expect. It's a wonderful collection of mostly traditional folk songs. If you like it raw, down-home and intimate, then Shady Grove is for you. Everytime I listen to it I almost think Jerry's in my living room with me; it's that for real. No overdubs, no edits, just unadulterated musical prowess. The mandolin is superb, the bonjo's superb, it's all just plain superb. Buy it, hear it, love it.

Shady Grove brings a fresh "new" sound back form the turn of the 19th century. Tales of whaling ships, romance, and beauty encompass this Garcia/Grishman recording. A beautiful rendition of John Hurt's Louis Collins highlights this disk full of colorful tales and innovative musicianship. Even if you are not a fan of folk/bluegrass music you will fall in love with this CD for its sure brilliance and heartfelt emotion.

This album is wonderful on its first run through, but it just gets better and better the more you listen to it. It shows what two men with enormous talent can produce with the experience that only a little age, wisdom, and weariness can provide. Truly inspired. If you are on the fence as to whether to buy it or not, do yourself a favor and just do it. You'll wonder why you were on the fence in the first place.

Garcia and Grisman were superb together. this particular album is unique.

Great music to listen to & also learn to play with. If you want to get away from mainstream rock, pop, or country & listen to hard to come by music & classic traditional then this is it.

did anyone notice the 'bonus' track?

on my copy of the disc, final track 13 "Down In The Valley" is followed by about 30 seconds of silence ... then -- still contained inside track 13 -- an ~2 minute workout on "Hesitation Blues" commences.