ETERNITY BLUE

It's no mystery that Henry Kaiser is a fan of the Grateful Dead. His albums occasionally have featured cover versions of Dead songs. This album is a tribute to the Grateful Dead and especially Jerry Garcia. Two of the tracks on the album have appeared on other releases, and one is an alternate take from a song that appeared on another album.

Kaiser's take on the Dead is just great, especially in the improvisational jams. They make up the best parts of the album. Blues For Allah, from the Dead's most progressive studio album (in my opinion), is stretched out for almost a half an hour, and kaiser takes the band to the outer limit and back more than once. Dark Star, which morphs into John Coltrane's A Love Supreme and back again, is another fine highlight (this is the same version that appeared on the album "Heart's Desire").

I do like his version of Mason's Children, but this is an alternate take, and not quite as lively as the version released on "Those Who Know History Are Doomed To Repeat It". And I have never been a fan of the Dead's folky tunes, so High Time and Brokedown Palace just don't do anything for me.

But still, I'd say this is a fine album. A high 3.5 stars.