Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - Bare Bones: Volume II - Other Tunes & Arrangements (2-LP) Vinyl Record

Learn more about this release in our Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - Bare Bones: Volume II announcement from December 2024 on jambands.com.

Following the success of Shady Grove (1996) and Not for Kids Only (1993), Jerry Garcia and David Grisman continued their acoustic partnership with a series of intimate recordings that stripped away the Grateful Dead's electric power in favor of mandolin, acoustic guitar, and close harmonies. Bare Bones: Volume II collects alternate takes, unreleased tracks, and informal performances from these sessions, offering a glimpse into Garcia and Grisman's musical friendship and their shared love of bluegrass, traditional folk, and jazz standards.

The double LP format allows these performances to breathe naturally across the sides, capturing the warmth and immediacy of Garcia's acoustic guitar work paired with Grisman's virtuosic mandolin. Songs like "The Thrill is Gone," "Arabia," and "Grateful Dawg" showcase the duo's ability to find new angles on familiar material, while traditional tunes reveal Garcia's deep connection to the folk and bluegrass traditions that informed the Dead's early sound. Without drums, bass, or keyboards to fill the space, every note matters—Garcia's fingerpicking becomes the rhythm section, Grisman's mandolin provides both melody and punctuation.

What makes Bare Bones essential for Garcia fans is hearing him in his most relaxed and playful mode, freed from the pressure of leading the Grateful Dead and able to focus purely on the joy of playing music with a close friend. These sessions occurred during the Dead's final years, when Garcia's health was declining and the band's touring schedule was punishing. Here, you can hear him having fun, exploring melodies without the weight of expectation. This double LP preserves that intimacy, making listeners feel like they're sitting in the room while Garcia and Grisman trade licks and share musical ideas.

Double LP: Alternate takes and unreleased material from Garcia-Grisman sessions. Acoustic guitar and mandolin duets. Recorded mid-1990s.