Jorma Kaukonen Trio: Jorma Kaukonen, Michael Falzarano, Pete Sears:
True Religion / How Long Blues / Death Don't Have No Mercy /
Do Not Go Gentle / I See The Light -> Sunny Day Strut / Fools Blues /
Embryonic Journey / Good Shepherd / 99 Year Blues /
I Am The Light Of This World / Genesis / Ice Age / Gypsy Fire /
Walkin' Blues / Just My Way / Nine Pound Hammer /
San Francisco Bay Blues / Water Song / Encore: Larue Larue
Just about the best recorded show I've ever heard, the original digital audience recording flawlessly copied to cassette.
An outstanding performance of the Jorma Kaukonen Trio. Not the roar of Tuna, just the usual evening of inspired virtuosity. Jorma seems to have been pretty engaged and happy this evening, playing full steam ahead all night, so it's hard to pick out any highlights. Following are some of my favorite moments.
"Do Not Go Gentle" -- Jorma starts out with a low volume, exquisitely picked intro - Michael and Pete ease into the mix, and the volume and intensity builds, through a solo by Pete Sears, into Jorma's climactic last verse.
"I See The Light -> Sunny Day Strut" -- One of my favorites, and this night's is a gorgeous rendition. Features a great Pete Sears solo, as does the following "Fool's Blues." As mentioned above, I guess my Pete Sears ambivalence has been transformed into admiration.
"I Am The Light Of This World" - Jorma is testifying on this one, and he convinces me that he's a believer -- at least in the Rev. Davis.
"Genesis", followed by "Ice Age" -- Two of my favorite Jorma songs, played here with a quiet intensity. "Ice Age" is far and away the best song from the 1989 reunion album, don't you think? Unlike Paul Kantner (or Grace, or Marty), Jorma can still write great songs.
"Gypsy Fire" -- Jorma gets a super tone on this one, considering that it's on that Chet Atkins, which is a little dead, sustain wise. I guess he uses it because it's the closest approximation to an acoustic guitar that can be easily amplified.
"It's Just My Way" -- Featuring another go-round of Pete's eastern-influenced solo, a wild downhill slide cascading into a breaking glass finale -- and then Falzarano nails the final verse
"Larue, Larue" -- The show rocks out with Jorma playing slide with a fat, feedback soaked tone as Pete pounds the piano.