Photo Credit: Marc Millman

Phil Lesh has added another chapter to his YouTube-based series, The Clubhouse Sessions: Darkstarathon. Following up on mid-May’s capture, the newly recorded video features Lesh performing in Marin County with collaborators and frequenters of his Friends lineup, son Grahame Lesh, Jason Crosby, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, and Oteil Burbridge–who traded in his bass to sit behind the kit and provide a backbeat throughout the nearly 40-minute jam. 

As opposed to a certain flair of psychedelic rock that permeated the prior video drop, due in part to the cosmic nature of Daniel Donato’s melodic riffs, the latest release feels jazzier at points, with Crosby leading the way, guiding his fellow players on piano through cascading instrumentals before “Dark Star” crashes, met with smiles conveying recognition of the intended assignment. The father and son trade select lyrics before an upshift in tempo, noodling, and more “Dark Star” instrumentals. (Perhaps even a slight tease of “Terrapin Station.”) 

From outer space, Phil and his choice group of collaborators return to Earth, ever so elegantly arriving on “Stella Blue.” The first notes provoke more smiles, and Phil lifts his hands, making gentle movements and physical recognition of the coming tenderness. An instrumental resurrection of the original, there are times when one might forget where the jam began, only to hit a familiar riff and bring the desired mission back into sight. Notably, the outro of “Stella Blue” seemed to warp back around, indicating where the session all began and intended to return. 

Scroll down to watch the nearly 40-minute Darkstarathon jam.