Phil Lesh and Friends: Live at the Warfield

The Dead are alive and well in this lengthy concert that ranks among the best of performances involving Grateful Dead members since Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Of course, anyone attending (or watching) a Dead-related gig knows what to expect: lots of tie-dyed twirling in the audience, long medleys with loads o' jamming, and guitar players who can't help sounding at least a little like Garcia—it's all here, but bassist Phil Lesh's show, recorded in San Francisco in 2005, is a little different. For one thing, the titular "Friends" include new blood, such as guitarist John Scofield and singer Joan Osborne. Scofield, known for his long and impressive jazz resume, plays very little jazz, but he and fellow picker Larry Campbell do a lot more rocking here than Garcia-style psychedelic noodling; and Osborne, who doesn't get nearly enough time in the spotlight (Lesh, a mediocre singer at best, takes most of the lead vocals, but hey, it's his trip), is powerful, soulful, and a terrific harmony singer, as is keyboardist Rob Barraco. In this band's hands, even old war horses like "Uncle John's Band" and "Eyes of the World" seem newly minted, while "New Speedway Boogie" comes off like a blues or R&B number with Grateful Dead influences, not the other way around. No complaints about the rest of the repertoire, either, as Lesh plumbs the Dead catalogue, from ancient albums such as Anthem of the Sun ("Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks)") and Aoxomoxoa ("St. Stephen," "The Eleven") to relatively obscure '70s offerings like From the Mars Hotel ("Unbroken Chain") and Blues for Allah ("Help on the Way," "Slipknot," "Franklin's Tower"), presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo. In fact, only a pointless cover of "All Along the Watchtower" seems extraneous. Bonus material on the second disc includes interviews, backstage footage, and a mostly entertaining jam session. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)