Jerome John Garcia would have turned 69 in August. Although his body is gone, Jerry Garcia’s spirit and music have never been more alive. That spirit is the heart of the “Very Jerry: Acoustic & Electric Tribute to Garcia,” bringing together an all-star lineup of the local musical community who play his songs regularly at Ashkenaz. The night celebrates Garcia the composer and performer,... [read more]

Jerome John Garcia would have turned 69 in August. Although his body is gone, Jerry Garcia’s spirit and music have never been more alive. That spirit is the heart of the “Very Jerry: Acoustic & Electric Tribute to Garcia,” bringing together an all-star lineup of the local musical community who play his songs regularly at Ashkenaz. The night celebrates Garcia the composer and performer, as soloists, duos, and bands perform separately and in kaleidoscopic combinations, in this benefit for Ashkenaz.

Though he never played at Ashkenaz, the venue has a long history with Garcia’s music. Since the ’90s Ashkenaz has hosted Grateful Dead Nights and featured bands that pay homage to the music of Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and scores of acts who have followed in their footsteps.

As with the recent, sold-out “Doing Dylan” Ashkenaz benefit, “Very Jerry” opens with a mostly acoustic, song-oriented set as musicians perform favorite Garcia compositions – “St. Stephen,” “Black Muddy River,” “Doing that Rag” – followed by electric band jams with the musicians collaborating in pushing familiar Jerry/Dead songs – “The Wheel,” “Dark Star” – into new directions and heightened, full-on dancer-friendly rhythms.

Performers include singer-songwriter and Grateful Dead chronicler David Gans, guitarist and leader of various Dead tribute bands Pat Nevins (who learned to play guitar in the parking lots of Dead shows), Waybacks founding member and guitarist James Nash, guitarist-singer Sean Hodge, roots rock group Dedicated Maniacs, bandleader Joe Balestreri, string wizard Zac Matthews (formerly of Hot Buttered Rum), guitarist Eric Thompson (known for Cajun and blues bands, but in his early years in Palo Alto he and Garcia played together in such groups as the Black Mountain Boys and Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions), bluegrass bandleader and singer David Thom, Ted Silverman (of Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys), Danny Carnahan of Celtic/Grateful Dead jam band Wake the Dead, bassist Pat Campbell, and bandleader-guitarist Dave Stein.

Like many music venues and nonprofits, Ashkenaz has been exploring new ways to keep its doors open. Local musicians in the community have also been looking for ways to give back to Ashkenaz, and so sprung the idea of Community Benefit Nights. This event comes on the heels of an incredibly successful and musically exceptional birthday tribute to Bob Dylan in May. Watch for more Community Benefit Nights throughout the year – some focused on specific artists and genres.