Garcia Family Provisions have issued another preview of the upcoming GarciaLive Volume 18 archival release showcasing Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders‘ cover of “Valdez In The Country”. The official audio of the collaborators’ November 2nd, 1974 concert at Keystone in Berkeley, CA is out on Friday via Round Records.
This Donny Hathaway cover arrived as the second song in the first set and would kick off a trio of covers with Garcia and Saunders performing songs by Jimmy Cliff and Randy Newman. The expansive 16-minute rendition is Acid Jazz Jerry at his finest. Of course, everyone loves a good Jimmy Cliff cover to get moving, but songs like “Valdez In The Country” are where Jerry and Merl really connect. The rest of the band is in on the party as well, with Martin Fierro‘s looping saxophone providing the bedrock for improvisation alongside bassist John Kahn. Ultimately, the song melts off into the low rumble of Paul Humphrey‘s drums as Garcia’s murmurs patiently turn back into a roar to close out the tune.
Friday’s release of GarciaLive Volume 18 will mark the first circulation of Betty Cantor-Jackson‘s original recordings captured on 1/4” analog reels. Together with lifelong collaborator John Kahn, future Legion of Mary bandmate Martin Fierro, and in-demand session drummer Paul Humphrey, Garcia and Saunders deliver an intimate evening of exploration at one of the Grateful Dead guitarist’s favorite venues.
Listen to Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders perform “Valdez In The Country” from GarciaLive Volume 18 below or on your preferred streaming platform. Click here to pre-order from Garcia Family Provisions.
Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders – “Valdez In The Country” (Donny Hathaway) – 11/2/74