Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect!, February 15, 2002
This album was recorded in the spring of 1991. I have never heard Grisman and Garcia sound as good as they do on this cd. Garcia's picking and singing is tasteful. Garcia's picking on this album are much more inspired and timely than on So What. As for Grisman his soloing on Friend of the devil is the best mandolin solo I've ever heard. And I'ver heard many. This version of Friend of the devil is the BEST I've ever heard because everything is perfect about the song. Garcia's voice on that track and throughout the whole album is yearning and soulful. The song also has a slower and more longing sound to it. This album is composed of an eclectic mix of songs that include: celtic, blues, the dead, southern bluegrass, I guess what you would call "russian music", spanish music, and original grisman garcia compositions. The mix is perfect there's something of everything and somehow it all fits together seamlessly. It starts off with a BB King tune and then goes into a wonderful celtic sounding Grisman composition. Then a "real" Irish/Celtic song that sounds sad if you listen to the words. Then, of course, the best version of Friend of the devil ever. With Garcia's desperate voice and Grisman's sweet mandolin tremolos reflecting Garcia's feeling. Then a nice russian lullaby that reminds of a cold winter night. Then another Grisman composition that shows how great of guitar player Garcia can be. Then perhaps my favourite track "walkin' boss" comes next. It starts out with a great introduction then goes into the verse and chorus. It ends with both Grisman and Garcia soloing at the same time and somehow sounding like they are reading eacother's minds because they are totally synchronous throughout the entire song. Grisman makes use of the harmonics on his mandolin to great effect on this one. Track 8 is a nice bluesy southern song about being bored. The last track is a composition by Grisman that is underrated in my opinion. Some have said it's different that all the other tracks on this album, but I say it's the culmination of all the previous tracks. Arabia has everything that all the other tracks had except for Garcia's passionate voice. It's a spanish-flavoured song that is definitely worth listening to all the way through. There are bass, guitar, mandolin, and conga solos in it. This album is PERFECT. If you took anything away it would be less than, so do yourself a favour and hear two of our greatest musicians in their finest hour. Total time 58+ minutes.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest acoustic disks ever, November 1, 2001
I initially picked up this disk from the library. But the tunes stuck in my head long after the CD was returned. The playing throughout is warm and pristine. The song choices are simultaneously compelling, unified, and ecclectic--blending blues, bluegrass, celtic, traditional folk, jazz, and ethnic music. Jerry, while never a great vocalist, brings something special and unique to the songs. Listen to his very-different-than-BB King rendition of "The Thrill is Gone." I've since bought the album and found that it gets even better over time, allowing almost unlimited relistening. I've heard both Garcia and Grisman, together and with separate projects; they've never sounded better than they do together on this album.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb, August 19, 1999
By A Customer
Superb playing by Garcia, which destroys for me the conventional wisdom that his playing declined in the 1990s. Hearing this CD, I can't help but think that he was wasting his time with the Grateful Dead--he should have made an entire career out of this type of acoustic music, like Norman Blake did.
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~ David Grisman
~ David Grisman
~ Jerry Garcia
~ Various Artists
~ David Grisman
by Jerry Garcia 
