Jerry Garcia, Robert Kahn Share Stage For Acoustic Concert On ‘GarciaLive Volume 14’ [Listen]

The newest installment of the Jerry Garcia GarciaLive archival series will feature an acoustic performance with special guest Robert Kahn from 1986. The first single from GarciaLive Volume 14: January 27th, 1986 The Ritz finds the two collaborating on the Grateful Dead classic “Ripple”.

This is the first acoustic release from the GarciaLive series, as well as the first to feature no backing band. Previous releases have found the Dead guitarist joined by the Jerry Garcia Band, Legion of Mary, as well as a pairing with Merl Saunders alongside Garcia’s usual rhythm section of John Kahn and Bill Vitt.

This 1986 concert features the acoustic duo running through a selection of Dead tunes, Garcia solo songs, and folk classics. After opening the show with “Deep Elem Blues”, the pair take a stroll through “Little Sadie”, “Friend of the Devil”, “Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie”, Bob Dylan‘s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”, and Garcia’s own “Run For The Roses” to close the first set. The dynamic duo then returned to the stage for the second set with “Dire Wolf”. After that they were off with “Simple Twist of Fate”, “Spike Driver Blues”, “Bird Song”, and “Ripple” to close the second frame. That “Ripple” is available today, and was followed up by an encore performance of “Goodnight Irene” on that winter night in 1986.

Billy Strings observes in the CD’s liner notes that Garcia “sings through the verses and picks through the melodies as if he is the man in the story. Delicate and deliberate.”

Listen to Jerry Garcia and Robert Kahn perform “Ripple” on January 27th, 1986 at The Ritz in New York City. GarciaLive Volume 14 is available on CD and streaming platforms on July 24th, with a vinyl release on August 14th.

Jerry Garcia, Robert Kahn — “Ripple” — 1/27/1986