Jerry Garcia Band
How Sweet It Is

How Sweet It Is is the long-awaited follow-up to the two-disc Jerry Garcia Band set that was released in 1991. Culled from the same period of live performances, this effort delivers ten more songs that explore the magical relationship between Jerry Garcia, bassist John Kahn, and keyboardist Melvin Seals.  The disc opens with a solid version of the title track that forever will be engrained in Deadhead's minds as the song that opened his October 31, 1992 concert, thereby marking Garcia's first public appearance following the collapse of his health. That's What Love Will Make You Do finds Garcia's fluid leads drifting above the punctuated rhythmic pulses of Kahn's bass, the keyboards of Melvin Seals, and the jazzy drumming of David Kemper. How Sweet It Is concludes with a beautiful rendition of Like a Road that highlights Garcia's heartfelt, gospel-tinged vocals, a soulful solo from Seals, and Kahn's floating bass line.  

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!