Jerry Garcia Band - Jerry Garcia Band 30th Anniversary Edition (5-LP Vinyl)
Read our review of Jerry Garcia Band's 30th Anniversary Edition from October 2021 on jambands.com.
This 5-LP 30th Anniversary Edition of Jerry Garcia Band's self-titled 1991 double album expands the original release with bonus tracks and alternate takes, documenting JGB during a period when Garcia was playing some of his most inspired performances outside the Grateful Dead. Recorded live at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco and the Club Front studio in San Rafael, the album captures JGB's classic mid-period lineup with Melvin Seals on organ, John Kahn on bass, David Kemper on drums, Gloria Jones and Jaclyn LaBranch on vocals. This expanded edition reveals the depth of material JGB was exploring in the early 1990s.
JGB's approach differed fundamentally from the Grateful Dead's: tighter song structures, more emphasis on R&B and soul covers, Garcia's guitar work leaning toward jazz-influenced melodicism rather than psychedelic exploration, and Melvin Seals' Hammond B3 organ providing a foundation that allowed Garcia to sing lead lines with his guitar. The setlists balanced originals like "The Wheel" and "Mission in the Rain" with covers of Dylan, Motown, reggae, and gospel material, all transformed through JGB's filter into something that honored the originals while making them Garcia's own.
What makes this 30th Anniversary Edition essential is the bonus material that reveals JGB's creative process and Garcia's different approaches to familiar songs. The 5-LP format allows space for complete performances across ten sides, with the expanded tracklist giving fans deeper insight into this crucial period of Garcia's career outside the Dead. For listeners who know Garcia primarily through the Grateful Dead, JGB reveals another dimension of his musicianship.
5-LP 30th Anniversary Edition. Expands 1991 double album with bonus tracks. Warfield Theatre + Club Front sessions. Classic JGB lineup.
Please note: this record is a pre-order and is expected to ship around February 25, 2026, along with any other vinyl records in your order.