Garcia Fans ! - Merl Fans ! ... and naturally, as usual - Deadheads too !! Now Here ! for certain is yet another Legendary " Betty Board " that you might not have ... but oh-my, do I hope that you have heard it at some-time over the years !?! Garcia & Saunders - with John Kahn & Bill Vitt too ... ' Live ' at the Keystone-Berkeley ! Or ... as I used to like to refer to my previous place of residence ... ' Bezerkeley ' ! - I mean just think Greek !!! Wow ... and, in true fact - this little 1988 project / release was initially spearheaded by Fantasy Studios - right-in Berkeley ! Yes indeed ... & 10th & Parker to be exact. So-cool. And as far as Musically ?? Whoa !?! As I'm not even sure where to begin with this one, as it is indeed a " Legendary " release - even to the point where I might personally consider it one of the greatest Jerry Garcia releases of All-Time !?! I mean after all ... this is July 1973 ! that we are listening to here - right ' at ' the Keystone-Berkeley ... at the very-beginning of the long-term Garcia hot steak - of consistently playing the Keystone for years !! And, just think of this from a " roots " perspective ... these recordings take place close to a year and a half ... before the J.G.B. was even named the J.G.B. !!! Well, you know ... ' Officially '. So yes, point being ... this was the Garcia / Saunders era in All ! of its glory. The fact is, Garcia ( like all brilliant & popular musical masterminds ) always plays at his absolute best live or in the studio when he is relaxed, comfortable, and in the company of close musical friends. In hindsight, I'm not certain there was a more comfortable music unit for Jerry than this '73 quintet. Garcia's close brotherhoods with both Merl Saunders and John Kahn ( and even David Grisman ) are the quintessential ingredient to these July '73 Keystone-Berkeley release being just that " special ". The musicianship is immaculate. They are seamless, tight and can push the jams when they want - and at the same time they can play the " laid-back " down-tempo tunes with absolute perfection. Jerry & Merl started playing together in '71, and this was the 1st " quintet " that toured live with short-run consistency. The Garcia / Saunders project took a few different forms during its all too short live-show presence between 1972 and 1975. Beginning in '76, Jerry's focus was onto the early developments of the Jerry Garcia Band with close musical & personal friend John Kahn being the anchor on bass. The Keyboard & Drum-kit spots changed fairly until the J.G.B. settled in for a 10 + year period with Melvin Seals ( Keys ) & David Kemper ( Drums ) from roughly 1984-1994. But looking back, this brotherhood between Jerry and both Merl & John were the true roots of what we all became to know and love as the Jerry Garcia Band. This unit mines live musical magic all throughout this " Vol. 1 " release. For those of you who have a fondness for Merl's one of a kind " funky groove ", and certainly love when Jerry opts for the " twangy-Stratocaster " tone ... well, these releases are most definitely for you. The attention to musical detail, interplay and time-structures is near-perfect to a point of mastery. Simply put, the Volumes from this fine set are all true must-have - and you will probably find yourself consistently going for them & listening to them when your ear craves live purity & perfection. Truly exceptional performances with copious quantities of musical soul. Garcia / Saunders / Kahn / Vitt !!!! - July 1973 at the Keystone-Berkeley !!! - Enjoy !!!!!!! And, if you are one that just happens to believe in ' rumors ' when you hear them ? Well, word on the street back then in 1973-1974 was that Garcia was so thrilled with this Garcia / Saunders project - that he even considered leaving the Grateful Dead !?! And believe me ... I've heard this ' Story ' a few times from some more-than " legit " sources to say the very-least. But, maybe it's like ' Mars Hotel ' itself said ... " Ugly Rumors ! " ... Ha ! And ... just as the photos nicely show - this particular release here is indeed the Very-Rare ! " SACD " release made available by Fantasy Records ( Fantasy, Inc. ) way-back in 2004 !!! Beyond-Amazing ! Super Audio CD technology sound - in Hybrid Stereo ( SA-CD ) quality !! Made for ( and only-for ) this Garcia & Saunders Keystone " Vol. 1 " release - as there was no SACD release fro either the Vol. 2 or Encores releases which originally debuted in 1988, along with this Legendary ! Vol. I release. If you are a Audiophile and a Garcia-phile too ? ... this one is an absolute Must ! for your Hi-Fi Audio Collection. This SACD technology is for-real ! - and it is just so completely glorious that This ! Vol. release was selected, for all reasons obvious. Enjoy !!!
TRACK LISTING >>>
Please ask any questions before bidding/buying & Best of Luck !
( also ... please feel free to click the 'see other items' button above to check-out my other related live listings - Thanks ! )
U.S. & International buyers welcome (additional shipping charges & delivery time will apply for international destinations). Shipping charges include delivery confirmation on every item. Returns accepted within 14 days of purchase if item is unused and undamaged (buyer pays return shipping). All items will be shipped as merchandise with the winning bid entered as item value (2023-2024).