may be one of the best. Another tune from Garcia's solo album Cats Under The Stars, "Rueben and Cherise," the band fires on all cylinders with a gospel-fueled incandescence. The group performs two more covers


in the first set--Jesse Stone's "Money Honey" and Charles Johnson's "My Sisters and Broth- ers" with deft precision. To close the first set, they play the classic "Deal", and it's already obvious this is an essential volume to own for any Jerry Garcia fan. Set Two begins with Van Morrison's


"Bright Side of the Road", and then Bruce Cockburn's "Waiting For A Miracle." The Mc- Cracklin/Malone number "Think" resonates on various musical levels. However, the gem of these covers stands as "Shining Star" the Manhattans hit, and it sounds great to hear Garcia and the band reconstruct this popular song with their own magical twist. "Ain't No Bread In The Breadbox" finds the group exer- cising their musical dexterity as well as a Gar- cia favorite "That Old Lucky Sun." The final cut, Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue" seems to conjure time travel from 1973 to 1991 and beyond. When Garcia died four years after this


performance it was Dylan who wrote this about Garcia: “There's no way to measure his greatness or magnitude as a person or as a player. I don't think eulogizing will do him justice. He was that great – much more than a superb musician with an uncanny ear and dexterity. He is the very spirit personified of whatever is muddy river country at its core and screams up into the spheres. He really had no equal. “To me he wasn't only a musician and


friend, he was more like a big brother who taught and showed me more than he'll ever know. There are a lot of spaces and advances between the Carter family, Buddy Holly and, say, Ornette Coleman, a lot of universes, but he filled them all without being a member of any school. His playing was moody, awesome, sophisticated, hypnotic and subtle. There's no


way to convey the loss. It just digs down really deep.” Dylan’s words remain true, and Volume 8


verifies The Jerry Garcia Band’s timeless soul. - James Calemine


Mark Duda Month of Sundays (True Rock) I have been listening


to Mark Duda for years as a member of The Handful, and I always loved their music, but I


must be honest, Month of Sundays is the best album of Duda’s career thus far. It’s a six- song EP that leaves you wanting more – much more. All of the songs were written or co-written by Mark, and he sings them with passion, in a voice that sometimes reminds me of Axl Rose, if Axl had more control over his vocals. (Especially on the rocking “Con- nection.”) He rocks, but you can understand all of the words. I love that. This album is full of melodic rockers,


from the opening title track, “Month of Sun- days,” a song that will have you singing along and dancing at the same time. The song struc- ture, dynamics, guitar work and lyrics com- bine for a near perfect musical gumbo. Mark and his backing band don’t let up a bit for “Murder on Delancey” and “Standoff Love,” a tune that brings to mind the best of 1950’s, sax soaked radio rock, kicked up by a 21st century vibe. “Worse for Wear” continues Duda’s set


of instant classics. There is virtually nothing bad to be said about this album, sports fans. No kidding. “Subway Song,” an acoustic based rocker, closes out the set with true New York City style, moving from soft acoustic to a rocking Ramones/Runaways beat that sent my mind reeling back to my days in Manhat- tan rocking at CBGB or Max’s Kansas City.


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