In 1991, the landmark Garcia/Grisman was released on mandolinist David Grisman's Acoustic label. Grisman has been a key player on several of the Grateful Dead's most beloved tunes and had created the jazz influenced bluegrass genre dubbed Dawg music; and Garcia held acoustic and bluegrass music close to his heart. This album gave us the best of both of their affinities--trippy, organic, intricate, and soulful melodies with Garcia's raspy vocals, which meld perfectly with the acoustic instrumentals. The disc sold well, and was nominated for a Grammy that year--high praise for a couple if Bay Area old hippies who liked to smoke, eat pizza, and play great music. Eventually they toured and a documentary film, Grateful Dawg, was made of the collaboration--well worth finding and watching.

In the following years, Garcia and Grisman produced several more discs, including the fabulous Shady Grove (with the great flatpicker Tony Rice), Not For Kids Only, the Miles Davis inspired So What, I've Been All Around This World, the Grateful Dawg Soundtrack, and the notorious Pizza Tapes. During a two-day session with Rice, Grisman ordered pizza, and the delivery guy swiped some cassettes of some tunes that Garcia had left on the coffee table. Copies were rapidly made and the tracks proliferated through the Grateful Dead community. Fortunately, we can all hear these tunes on this fine release.

Go on your favorite streaming service and track down these releases, they will keep you grooving for many hours, and you will always come back for more.

Steve Chase is listening to Grateful Dawg at home in Unison