Merl Saunders & Friends (ft. Jerry Garcia) - [1997] Keepers (FLAC)

Merl Saunders & Friends (ft. Jerry Garcia) - [1997] Keepers (FLAC)

Release Date: October 21, 1997
Recording Date: 1972 - 1975
Genre: Funk/Rock/Jazz/Blues


Review:
Keyboardist Merl Saunders roamed through the vaults at Fantasy Records in 1997, where he had recorded a voluminous amount of material in the 1970s, and put together this scintillating retrospective. Filled with multi-track remixes of forgotten masters, unreleased gems, restored parts over previously released material, this features Saunders fronting a bunch of different lineups and utilizing the talents of Jerry Garcia, Michael Bloomfield, David Grisman, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn and a young Sheila E. Escovedo. Highlights include "Little Bit of Righteousness" and "Iron House," both featuring great guitar work from Bloomfield, "Wondering Why" and "Bolinas Brown," showcasing Garcia in two different lineups and "M.S.," perhaps Sheila's first recorded performance.


Track List:
1. Mystery Train
2. That's All Right
3. I Was Made To Love Her
4. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
5. Iron Horse
6. Little Bit Of Righteousness
7. Wondering Why
8. Keepers (Finders)
9. She's Got Charisma
10. La-La
11. Georgia On My Mind
12. M.S.
13. Bolinas Brown


Musicians:
Mystery Train;
Merl Saunders - clavinet, organ
Jerry Garcia - guitar, vocals
Vassar Clements - violin
David Grisman - mandolin
John Kahn - bass
E. W. Wainwright - drums

That's All Right;
Merl Saunders - organ, piano
Jerry Garcia - guitar, vocals
Vassar Clements - violin
David Grisman - mandolin
John Kahn - bass
E. W. Wainwright - drums

I Was Made To Love Her;
Merl Saunders - organ
Jerry Garcia - guitar
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums
Kenneth Nash - congas

Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You;
Merl Saunders - piano
Jerry Garcia - guitar
Vassar Clements - violin
David Grisman - mandolin
John Kahn - bass
E. W. Wainwright - drums
Geoff Muldaur - vocals

Iron Horse;
Merl Saunders - piano, organ
Michael Bloomfield - guitar
Ron Stallings - saxophone
John Wilmeth - trumpet
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums
Kenneth Nash - bongos

A Little Bit Of Righteousness;
Merl Saunders - piano, organ
Michael Bloomfield - guitar
Ron Stallings - saxophone
John Wilmeth - trumpet
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums
Kenneth Nash - congas

Wondering Why;
Merl Saunders - piano, mellotron strings, vocals
Jerry Garcia - lead guitar
Michael Howell - rhythm guitar
Martin Fierro - flute
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums
Kenneth Nash - percussion

Keepers (Finders);
Merl Saunders - organ
Jerry Garcia - guitar
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums

She's Got Charisma;
Merl Saunders - organ, synthesizer (electric piano)
Michael Howell - guitar
Tom Fogerty - rhythm guitar
Chuck Raney - bass
Gaylord Birch - drums
Kenneth Nash - percussion
The Hawkins Singers (Edwin, Walter, Tramaine, Lynette) - vocals

La-La;
Merl Saunders - organ, roland 2000
Jerry Garcia - guitar
Martin Fierro - flute
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums
Kenneth Nash - percussion, bongos
Vince Littlejohn - drums, percussion (overdubbed in 1997)

Georgia On My Mind;
Merl Saunders - organ
Jerry Garcia - guitar
John Kahn - bass
Bill Vitt - drums

M.S.;
Merl Saunders - organ, clavinet
Chris Hayes - guitar
Martin Fierro - saxophone
Tony Saunders - bass
Larry Vann - drums
Sheila Escovedo - congas

Bolinas Brown;
Merl Saunders - piano, mellotron strings
Martin Fierro - saxophone
Jerry Garcia - guitar (lead)
Joel Cohen - guitar
Billy Fender - rhythm guitar
John Kahn - bass
Gaylord Birch - drums
Kenneth Nash - percussion
Vince Littlejohn - drums, percussion (overdubbed in 1997)