Revitalizing a classic collaboration, The Dead welcomed Branford Marsalis to the stage for much their August 17 performance at the Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh, NC. The lauded saxophonist jammed with the Grateful Dead several times in the early 1990s beginning on 3/28/90 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY (the Eyes of the World’ from this performance appears on the groups Without a Net release).
Marsalis emerged at the start of the Deads first set Tuesday, coloring The Music Never Stopped, Strange World, Night of 1000 Stars, and Crazy Fingers. The saxophonist also joined the Dead for the majority of their second set, playing particularly noteworthy versions of Traffics horn opus Spark of High-Heeled Boys and Eyes of the World, Marsalis most famous Dead collaboration. The Dead conclude their Wave That Flag tour tonight at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta, GA, while Marsalis can next be seen on September 5 at Lenox, MAs Tanglewood.