Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby with Branford Marsalis

Bruce Hornsby, Brandford Marsalis and Bob Weir

All Good Festival 2012 was a great year for fans of the Grateful Dead, with many of the surviving original members in attendance to play shows. Although Bob Weir, Phil lesh, and Mickey Hart decided to each do their own thing, it was a magical weekend for deadheads young and old alike. Bob Weir opened up Thursday on the main “Dragon” stage after a short Trampled by Turtles set by coming onstage with Piano virtuoso Bruce Hornsby and Saxophone Legend Branford Marsalis. Both Hornsby and Marsalis played with the Dead in the 90’s, so this was quite an astounding family reunion that all of the fans in the overwhelmingly large crowd could appreciate.

These three legends were accompanied by Hornsby’s usual band, The Noisemakers. This was not your average Dead or Ratdog set. It accentuated Hornsby's instrumentals on such songs as “Big Boss Man” and Marsalis' on “Dark Star” amongst others.

In fact, it was the Marsalis' saxophone that really gave this group a different sound than most other Grateful Dead related jambands. Weir even played an acoustic guitar for a segment of the show. At times, the sound of more structured jazz marveled the audience. Other show highlights included Scarlet Begonias into Fire on the Mountain, as well as the set closer, “Jack Straw” that kept the crowd in the mood for Phil Lesh and Friends, who would be next up after a 45 minute intermission from The Werks. I’m sure everyone’s first reaction is to ask, “Why didn’t the Dead just play that weekend?” Well, a good answer is to say that the diversity that came from the each of the different shows really kept the whole weekend full of loving and happiness that came from a whole weekend of Grateful Dead music.

Bruce Hornsby

Each of these incredibly talented musicians has a normal band and tour schedule of their own. Bruce Hornsby, while normally playing with The Noisemakers, has several spring 2013 tour dates playing solo. Marsalis is currently on a massive solo tour that will go until April of this year. Weir has a few dates with his notorious band, Furthur, as well as some solo shows, and even a few bookings leading his other band, Ratdog. All Good Festival announces their lineup for the 2013 festival tomorrow and fans and getting excited! www.allgoodfestival.com