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Dave McMurray: Grateful Deadication 2
ByThere is room for some authentically Dead-like touches along the way; "China Cat Sunflower" gets an interlude of light pastoral flute, and Jamey Johnson croons "To Lay Me Down" with from-the-heart simplicity over the kind of warm pedal-steel guitar Jerry Garcia always wished he could play. Overall, though, it leans more toward urban street party than hippie jam, from a "Truckin'" reggae-fied by way of Booker T. Washington to the N'awlins street romp of "Scarlet Begonias" for a sunshine-filled highlight.
The stereotypical helping of stoner's psychedelia would not really fit with this sound (and is not the important thing about Dead music anyway), so any offbeat wildness comes from the band's own cooking chemistry instead. The semi-atonal structure of "The Other One" cannot help feeling a little odd even when played with no weird effects. "Crazy Fingers" steams to the finish with McMurray simply wailing his head off. The spirit behind this Deadication is one of love and soul, and this particular dressing provides plenty to enjoy.
Track Listing
Playing in the Band; China Cat Sunflower; Bird Song; To Lay Me Down; Truckin’; The Other One; If I Had the World to Give; Scarlet Begonias; Crazy Fingers.
Personnel
Dave McMurray
saxophoneWayne Gerard
guitarMaurice O’Neal
keyboardsLuis Resto
pianoIbrahim Jones
bassJeff Canady
drumsLarry Fratangelo
percussionAdditional Instrumentation
Jamey Johnson: vocals (4); Greg Leisz: pedal steel (4); Larry Campbell: guitar (4); Don Was: bass (4); Bob James: piano (6-7); Oteil Burbridge: vocals (8).
Album information
Title: Grateful Deadication 2 | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Blue Note Records
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About Dave McMurray
Instrument: Saxophone
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