Don’t look so surprised — Jesse McReynolds is, after all, the guy who went to Southern California to cut mandolin parts for The Doors’
The Soft Parade all those years ago. And while Jim & Jesse — the decades-long partnership between the McReynolds brothers that ended with Jim’s death early this century — furnished plenty of material for the classic repertoire, the pair were always ready to defy bluegrass convention. Still, while this one’s not a leap, it’s a bit of a stretch, inspired by Jesse’s Deadhead wife, Joy, and the friendship of West Coast banjo man Sandy Rothman — a friend of Garcia’s who co-produced the deliciously successful project. And though McReynolds’ tribute to Jerry Garcia and the Dead isn’t exactly a new release, this is the first time that he’s brought the music into the heart of Music City, making this not just a concert but a full-blown occasion.
— Jon Weisberger