Old & In the Way

This CD brings together some really incredible musicians! Not only do you have the considerable vocal and banjo talents of Jerry Garcia but also you've got David Grisman, and Vassar Clements: on Mandolin, and Violin, respectively. Garcia, Grisman, and Clements seem to be competing with eachother on each track for who can pull off the best solo on their instrument. They don't do this intentionally I don't think but they might as well be competing because all three are awesome throughout this entire CD. I didn't know that Garcia could play such a mean banjo, he can actually stay up with Grisman and Clements, who are elite in their field anyway. Grisman is probably one of the best Mandolin players of all time. He is especially good on Wild Horses. To give you an idea of how good Clements is on the violin I'll tell you about the time I went to a bluegrass concert that featured him. Clements was playing with John McCuen and a couple of other guys. Clements must be like 70 years...Read more

I was first introduced to this recording in the middle 70's. At that time,the popularity of Dawg music was yet to come into its own(Grisman), I had never been a Dead fan or heard much of Vassar's haunting fiddle. I was familiar with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass boys, but not with Peter Rowan (although he would later become one of my favorites). But, I found this album to be representative of the essence of what makes Bluegrass music great. A blending of various styles and musical backgrounds with Bluegrass accoustic instrumentation and harmony. Being from upper East Tennessee, the musical style felt right with my mountain roots and the contemporary adaptation satisfied the tastes endemic to my generation. In the intervening years, becoming more of a serious Bluegrass fan and musician, I would often revisit this ecclectic recording armed with what I felt was a more refined idea of what good Bluegrass should be, expecting to be less than I remembered. My newly refined ! taste did not...Read more

Wow! Who would have thought that the blend would be so incredible. A fantastic version of The Stone's "Wild Horses" and the New Rider's "Panama Red" are just some of the more familiar songs this album deals with. Clemens fiddle work carries the album, but all contribute to develop a delightful bluegrass mix. If you like Jerry Garcia, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, or bluegrass, you have to give this album a listen.