Jerry & Dawg Revisited is a recreation of the sound and spirit of Garcia Grisman (1990-1994) with original members Joe Craven and Jim Kerwin.
Here's a little history...
In 1964, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman met in the parking lot of a bluegrass festival at Sunset Park in West Grove, Pennsylvania. That serendipitous meeting started a relationship that five years later found them as members of an all-star Bluegrass band, Old & In The Way. The group released a legendary live album in 1973 that introduced Bluegrass to a much broader audience. It was during that stint together that Garcia nicknamed Grisman “Dawg,” and sometime thereafter Grisman decided to name the style of music that he played “Dawg Music.”
Joe Craven
Garcia Grisman percussionist and fiddler
Joe Craven has played with a wide variety of well known artists and styles of music for almost 40 years. Along with Jim Kerwin on bass, Joe brought his distinctive sound of hand and mouth percussion, along with his fiddle playing to Garcia Grisman. For many years, Joe was the hand / mouth percussionist, fiddler and rhythm mandolinist for the David Grisman Quintet. He is a fan of found sound, and brought that spirit to his brush work played on a fiddle case, as well as playing cups, small waste cans, his own hand made shakers, things found backstage and vocalisations to create his signature sounds. Joe recreates those signature sounds, once again, with Jerry & Dawg Revisited.
Jim Kerwin
Garcia Grisman Bassist
Jim Kerwin has the distinction of being the longest standing member of the David Grisman Quintet. He, along with Joe Craven, were invited to provide an acoustic rhythm section in support of Garcia and Grisman in their new project in 1990. Jim is a fine and versatile upright bassist and he brought fine ideas and style to the Garcia Grisman sound. This tribute to Jerry & David has rekindled fond memories for both Jim and Joe of many shows the quartet enjoyed at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco in those early 90s.
Stu Allen
Stu Allen takes the role of Jerry Garcia in Jerry & Dawg Revisited. Very few artists are better suited to pay tribute to Jerry's musicianship and soul. Stu is a true disciple of the Garcia legacy and has been a real fan of the Garcia Grisman project for many years. Having performed there under his own name, he is also no stranger to the Warfield Theater which was home to the Garcia Grisman shows, Stu has built an impressive following with his own band, The Mars Hotel, after years of performing nights of legendary jams in The Bay Area and beyond.
Photo © Bob Minkin Photography
Ronnie McCoury
Is one of the finest mandolin players in the world of Americana music today. Bluegrass' IBMA has awarded Ronnie Mandolin Player of the Year for multiple times. Along with his award winning mandolin playing, Ronnie is also a singer/songwriter and producer. He has recorded or performed with many artists from Bill Monroe to, of course, David Grisman. In fact, Ronnie plays a mandolin that came from the Dawg himself. Ronnie and David are close friends and Ronnie brings a great vibe to the role of David in this project. Ronnie performs regularly with the Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys. We are fortunate and grateful when he joins us in the role of the Grateful Dawg.
Andrew Collins
Mando maestro Andrew Collins finds himself as a major contributor to the epicentre of Canada’s acoustic/roots music scene. He has garnered 5 JUNO nominations and 7 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Andrew moves in and out of a variety of musical styles and counts the music of David Grisman as a huge influence. That becomes very apparent in Jerry & Dawg Revisited. Andrew has a signature style of his own, however, he possesses an uncanny ability to play "in the style" of David. His tone, attack, timing and vocabulary are remarkable and, like Ronnie, Andrew brings admiration, respect and soul to the role of the Dawg.
