KINGFISH
"SUNDOWN ON THE FOREST"
PHOENIX RISING RECORDS

  With an ensemble cast anchored by original member Matthew Kelly, Kingfish is back with its first studio recording in twenty years. The classic Kingfish sound is all here, but at the same time this recording is fresh and new. Featured on the disc are familiar names like Bob Weir, Robbie Hoddinott, Steve Kimock, Mookie Siegel, and Barry Sless. The newest member of the band is vocalist Jenni Muldaur. Many others took part in this project as well.

  The disc opens with Jenni singing a song called "Hurt Enough." Jenni has really come into her own as a singer, but you can certainly hear the influence of her famous mother Maria in Jenni’s vocal style. Nothing wrong with that, though. This is followed by the title song which is dedicated to forest activist Julia Butterfly Hill. The song makes clear the band’s deep commitment to environmental causes.

  My favorite song on the disc is called "Ridin’ High." It was recorded way back in 1973 and it features none other than Jerry Garcia on lead guitar. It is beautifully sung by Bill Cutler with a signature Jerry solo to close the song out. Jerry’s influence is all over this disc. You can hear a little bit of him in all of the lead guitarists involved with this project.

  Bob Weir contributes on a couple of the tracks but none more so than "Padlock Cufflinks." This is his song to sing from start to finish and its rocking style reminded me of Bobby’s days with the Midnights. He also harmonizes with Barry Flast and Matthew Kelly on a psychedelic bluegrass tune written by Country Joe McDonald called "Starship Ride." This is another tune that I really enjoyed.

  All told there are 14 cuts on the disc. I think the cover of the popular Dylan song "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" was a good choice. There’s also a cover of bluesman Bobby Charles’ "Tennessee Blues" interpreted here with more of a country sound. The disc closes with a remake of "Jump For Joy" from the now classic self-titled Kingfish album of 1976.

  So as the Grateful Dead pass into history, there’s still plenty for Deadheads to enjoy as the extended Dead family continues to make new music. This old Deadhead found "Sundown On The Forest" to be an exciting and enjoyable set of music.

.- Bill Harriman

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