Good stuff!  I was at that one too, we snuck in through a bathroom window, then duct taped the antenna of our boom box to a steel girder and recorded a crystal clear radio broadcast of the show as we watched it.  Fun times and great version of that tune!  Grateful Dead, how'd you guys get a name like that anyway? - Etta James

Wow, what a treasure! Thanks! I love it when Jerry was doing those 9ths on the backbeat, way up where Chet called the dusty end of the fingerboard, like something from a funk band (Tower of Power, come to think of it). God, he was so generous and humble. You could feel him settle into that groove like a comfortable sofa, and he left so much room for everybody to have fun.
 
Hell, by 2:30 it had become yet another unique version entirely (it snapped back with the horns at the end). Phil sounds really solid and muscular, even on these crappy iPad speaker (can't find my ear buds, at least my neighbors know I'm groovy).
 
I'll bet that was a killer show, you lucky dawg.

Thanks Bill, that was seriously delicious.
 
So silly question time, is there a recording of the whole set with Etta somewhere?  The Dead, Etta and her energy and TOP horn section, how have I not heard of this for 30+ years?
 
I got to crawl out from under my rock more frequently.

All ya gotta do is ask!  Here you go.  Enjoy.
 

 
Bill, tgo

Thanks Bill!
I listened while doing chores this afternoon and really dug it.
 
Then I moved into Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Welcome Back My Friends . . .  the whole album.  While I was listening it was painfully clear how truly poetic the aptitude of Keith was, his versatility and skill . . . I guess they were not enough to cover his pain - so sad.

LeeAnn Womack on Bluegrass Underground.
 

 
If I can make it 8-1/2 more years running this water plant, I'm going to retire from public service and get myself a gig like this one... actually, this same show is coming to Charlottesville, Virginia next month, and I'm thinking about going. I love the minimalist approach, no big stage production, all music.  
 
(okay, okay, I'll admit to also having a little crush on Lee Ann...)

To ring in the new season - Spring from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  
 

 
It's hard to feel anxious when listening to this... I'd rather drink turpentine and pee on a brush-fire than go to the doctor,  but that's what I gotta' do later today. Anxious doesn't even come close. =(

Listened to (and jammed with) some Chuck Berry and ELP-Brain Salad Surgery. I like to keep my listening diverse!

Charles Lloyd and the Marvels
 

 
Saw these guys live at Berklee recently, fantastic interpretations of the tunes they played!

Thanks for posting that! I love Charles Lloyd and Bill. Great rhythm section.
 
Boy, life is so different from when we were kids. All this incredible music available without even leaving the house.

3 cheers!
The version of Shenandoah brought a tear to my eye - stunningly beautiful.
 
I agree Edwin, I have off of work, awoke at 03:00, got a cup of coffee, crawled back in bed and tuned in.
Good lord this thread is brilliant.
:-D

3 cheers!
The version of Shenandoah brought a tear to my eye - stunningly beautiful.
 
I agree Edwin, I have off of work, awoke at 03:00, got a cup of coffee, crawled back in bed with the snow still falling outside and tuned in.
Good lord this thread is brilliant.
:-D

The girl that plays banjo in our neo-oldtyme band New River Bound is shopping for a new banjo... or rather, thinking of commissioning a new build based on a very old design. (sound familiar?) =)
 
Anyway, she very much likes this fella's work... this first demo is a strange one - a half-fretless banjo, meaning it's fretless down to the 7-1/2th fret, (?! yeah, you read that right) and fretted from there on to the end.  
 

 
And this is a similar model, but with all the frets. Jess really likes this tone, and it suits her playing style well. I like the simple retro design, especially the brass-plated frailing scoop at the end of the fingerboard.
 

I like the tone too; but then I know nothing about banjo tone.  

What's the purpose of the scoop plate?  Other banjos appear to have more frets there.