Photo Credit: Christopher Wilson

Saxophonist Dave McMurray has announced Grateful Deadication 2, featuring guest appearances by Oteil Burbridge, Bob James, Jamey Johnson, Greg Leisz and Don Was. To accompany news of the impending LP, the musician has also shared the official music video, which doubles as his take on the Grateful Dead original, “Scarlet Begonias.”

Grateful Deadication 2 is comprised of a nine-song set that offers Grateful Dead favorites and deep cuts, including “Truckin’,” “China Cat Sunflower,” and “To Lay Me Down.” The forthcoming collection includes McMurray’s Detroit associates guitarist Wayne Gerard, keyboardist Maurice O’Neal, pianist Luis Resto, bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady and percussionist Larry Fratangelo. 

As McMurray told Relix shortly after the release of his preceding album, Grateful Deadication, “I knew the gravity of taking this on. People take the Grateful Dead seriously, and I didn’t want to slack on the music.” 

“My most recent journey into Grateful Dead world began when my Detroit band and I traveled to Clubhouse Studios in Upstate New York,” McMurray recently offered via press release. “It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by lots of open land, and filled with vintage equipment. With master engineer Elliot Scheiner in tow, and four days and nights with only creating music on the brain, the vibe was just right. The result is a dark, sparse, emotional ride into the minds of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and the Grateful Dead… Detroit style.”

In a press release reflected on his first experience listening to the Grateful Dead. McMurray stated, “The long-form, odd measures and complex chords of the music hooked me immediately. I noticed the songs had great melodies yet held the openness of Miles Davis’ Electric Period. The music was catchy, psychedelic, raw, with the idea that nobody solos/everybody solos—akin to Weather Report. The more I listened, the more I knew these songs would eventually become a vehicle for my jazz expression.”

McMurray has an extensive history alongside Was, including a highly regarded 2018 appearance at San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. The set featured a surprise appearance by Weir, who had recently enlisted Was and drummer Jay Lane for his new band Wolf Bros. Notably, the event included a soaring rendition of the Dead classic “Days Between.”

Grateful Deadication 2 is another heartfelt celebration of the Grateful Dead’s premiere song craft, imagination and soul, which pulsates the album and exemplifies a wide range of the McMurray’s influences, including jazz, pop, rock, soul, reggae, R&B, gospel and more.

Pre-order Grateful Deadication 2 now. 

Stream the official music video for McMurray’s take on “Scarlet Begonias” below. 

Tracklisting for Grateful Deadication 2:

1. Playing in the Band

2. China Cat Sunflower

3. Bird Song 

4. To Lay Me Down feat. Jamey Johnson

5. Truckin’

6. The Other One feat. Bob James

7. If I Had the World to Give feat. Bob James

8. Scarlet Begonias feat. Oteil Burbridge

9. Crazy Fingers