Move Me Brightly

Actor Luke Wilson hosts this home-movie-style look at a tribute concert held to commemorate the life of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995. Led by band mate Bob Weir, the 2012 show marked what would have been Garcia's 70th birthday and featured friends both old and new playing a set of Dead material at Weir's San Rafael studio. In between performances, director Justin Kreutzmann, son of Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, interweaves commentary from family members and fans, including Carlos Santana, Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction), and Garcia's wife and daughters (even Sammy Hagar puts in a cameo). Jerry's brother, Tiff, and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) offer the most colorful stories, with Tiff recalling a childhood incident that led to the loss of Jerry's middle finger, while Hidalgo remembers Garcia's generous and unexpected gift of his 1958 Stratocaster, an instrument Hidalgo would never have been able to afford. The 10-song show incorporates Dead standards such as “Mission in the Rain” and “Shakedown Street,” and features vocals from Weir, Jim Lauderdale, Jonathan Wilson, and Mike Gordon (Phish), all of whom sound reasonably close to Garcia's voice. Unfortunately, Kreutzmann truncates the first few songs, but eventually eases up on the editing, and Wilson proves to be a genial and well informed interviewer. Although Weir plays on almost every selection, bass player Phil Lesh and percussionist Mickey Hart only put in brief appearances. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include six bonus songs (only three on the DVD version—but both formats feature a particularly fine rendition of “Friend of the Devil”). Recommended. (K. Fennessy)