I mean…from Shakedown till the end, what a groove. JG is tearing things up and Hornsby is always a nice addition, and I think Bobby played and sang his heart out on this one. Best of 91 for sure imho

The interplay among all the musicians is really something to hear over and over. The best show of 91 and maybe the last really great show. The sound on this is great as well.

I must say listening to Branford play Sax on High Time is quite eloquent. It may be that the song selection on this night was based on the notion that they had Branford for one night only so there were no throw away songs. Who said Jazz is Dead?

The last truly "great" Dead show, IMHO. If someone knows of a show better than this from '91 to the end...well, I'm all ears. I loved when Hornsby was with the guys...just listen to his work on Deal. Superb. After he was gone, I just never dug the Vince sound, with all due respect to the man. Add the fact that Marsalis is on board for the whole show, and the guys bringing their "A" game, and this is just pure gold.

Title of review hints at why I gave this performance a 5 star review...oh, and then there's the fact that the stage was occupied by great musicians who were clearly having FUN.

....cluttered, crowded, not an abundance of listening going on, but a highlight of an otherwise lolight era...

It has taken me 25 years to get around to reviewing this show?
There are not many shows by 1991 that i would recommend in the 5 star category but this one was very good.
A strong first set anchored by a fat Shakedown opener.
Getting to hear Jerry doing 'Train to Cry'
The Second Set was classic Grateful Dead on a mission with Brandford and Bruce and this set list Wow!
If you were there you know this was a great night of music. I am going to give it a listen and see if it still shines!!!

This is one of those nights

just got a sbd of this one. Help>SLip>Frank put me in a good place. Great Saturday night so far :)

I returned to seeing the Dead after a 5 year layoff after they broke out Dark Star in Hampton in 1990 and finally caught a Dark Star on this night after my God, it must be 90 shows and 12 years.

Everybody reviewing this show seems hell-bent on comparing this show to either the previous two Branford shows or their 'era of choice'. That's silly to me although I was hung up on that sh*t myself for years. Must we always look at better or best? Can't we just enjoy each show as the piece of art it was intended to be?

Personally, I went to over 20% of my entire Dead concerts in a two month period (March '81-May '81, 21 shows) and thought many of them incredibly average. Now listening to them, I'm shocked at how great they were night after night. Man, what I missed out on being picky! NO MORE!

Well anyhow, I guess I'll add my $.02 now lol.

I thought that it was indeed the lesser of the three Branford shows even though I was there and my quest for The Holy Grail (Dark Star) ended that night and with Branford no less. That doesn't change the facts. I knew it that night. I knew it when I heard the cassette a few weeks later. I knew it when I got the SBD on CD. I know it now listening. Personally, I like 12/31/90 best. Love the Dark Star > Too > Dark Star > TOO mixture. And, NFA is the best in years.

Well, you know the rest about this show. What's not to like other than Bob cuts off Estimated as usual for this era (80-81 is Estimated's peak).

The whole first set is great as the band rolls through just about every musical genre out there but country: funk (Shakedown); Blues (Rider > Train); folksy homespun ballads (Wind, High Time) Jazz (Cassidy); and rocking out (Deal) with great improv, group mind and vigor. Help > Slip > Franklin's is a tour de force as well.

Dark Star part 1 was good but not great, but I loved it anyhow.

The best part in my opinion is the space jam after verse two of Dark Star. Jerry and Branford trading horn sounds. Awesome stuff. In my 14 years of seeing the Dead, this was one of the three best improvisational things I saw the Dead do, along with the famous jam after He's Gone on 5/6/81 and the 20 minute Other One on 4/23/83.

And.. Oh yeah.. It's a five. :^)

I seriously never thought I'd find a show in '91 that I could truly honestly and without reservation say is 5-star material, but this one fits the bill. It's just a ridiculously hot meeting of musical minds w/Branford and Bruce totally locked in and given plenty of room to add color and nuance and power to every song.

Especially awesome is the "Shakedown", "Help>Slip>Tower" trio, a lovely jazzy "Dark Star" and a beautiful bluesy "Takes a Lot to Laugh" that finds Jerry in fine vocal form, even at this late date in the band's history.

An amazing performance all around, and this coming from a head who believes the band peaked (consistency-wise anyway) in 1977.

I love the dialogue in this show between the players. Sometimes, it a bit of a train wreck (BTW intro, etc), but the communication throughout is so fun. Very interesting H/S/F. This show kinda rules. Especially for '91.

This is a great example of the band from the '89 to '91 period.

You get a jazz guest (Branford Marsalis) and Bruce Hornsby. Highlights include Shakedown, CCRider> Takes a Train, Deal, Help sequence, Estimated, Miracle> Standing. And the rest is real good.

I'd like to give this a 5, but considering '68 and '72 - '74, not quite there.

Not much to add. I was at the show. Most all local NY shows from 88 and on. This night is special. Tears leaving my head thinking of the good times we had together Papa Jerry. I miss you

Second night of my first dead experience... what more could u ask for

there is some real fine ''weaving'' in and out playing going on certain songs the High Time is very very good version and heartfelt but the Help>Slip>Franklins there is some really good and spacey playing happening,Phil is just going full force threw most of Help and Slip he just is amazing.Jerry is just pushing for that sound driven by some real real good improv from Branford and Bruce,it is good to hear Bruce really step up front a little bit more here than other shows, i feel to not ''overshadow'' Vince although he still is not over bearing he just picks his spots to add some ''crazy spider fingers'' run but being invoked a little bit more by the fellow jazzbo. a must for serious collectors not that the entire show is filled with versions that challenge the early and ''Golden'' days but there are moments of real fine exporing hence SLIPKNOT!

I was at this show although I wouldn't consider myself a true DH because I was never on the bus, I saw my first show in 1978 at Hartford, and my last in 2009 in Rutherford and too many to count in between. This show definitely stands out in my memory as one of the most musical, energetic and inspired concerts I've ever seen.

How someone could rate this less than 5 is a mystery to me. This is a 5 star show all the way for me, a desert island disc for sure. In fact, I rank this as the best post Keith and Donna show and rank the Help>Slip>Franklins as one of the ultimate expressions of the GD magic, EVER. Check out Phil on the Help. Jerry, Bruce and Branford contribute to an acid drenched and quite jazzy version of Slipknot, shades of Bitches Brew era Miles Davis. They take their time with Franklins Tower, everybody gets a chance to shine.
Now for the very few flaws in this performance- While Bruce brought some great chops to the table and definately got Jerry fired up, he can be overbearing at times. And Vince stumbles on occasion (Estimated "sax", Dark Star organ). Like others have mentioned, the sound is a bit cluttered at points, to be expected with 8 musicians onstage.
But that is a small price to play for the breathtaking heights that this show reaches. Every song played here is an all time version, with the exception of Dark Star and Lovelight, and thats only cuz of the epic versions of these tunes they tossed off in the 60s-early 70s.
Grateful Dead music just doesn't get any better than this.
And for the record, this show absolutely CRUSHES 12-31-90 and is better overall than 3-29-90(except for the Eyes of course).

This was my third show and all at MSG. I was forutunate enough to have traded a ticket for the night before to a guy named Dave for some EXCELLENT paper. I also had an extra for this night so I went in search of Dave once again. I found Dave and found out at the set break that he was a massage therapist and knew the head of security at MSG, so we spent the second set as close to the stage as you can get right in front of Phil. Although I only saw the boys 8 times in the 90's this was the only time Jerry seemed to be having fun. Jerry would glance between Brnanford and Bruce and just smile and jam away. I thought Bobby was going to get electrocuted the way he was spitting in his mic during Estimated. Standing on the Moon was priceless. And to witness a Help>Slip>Frank from the first row, WOW! I am in no way an expert on The Gratefuld Dead but this was one of the best times of my entire life. Phil could be higher in the mix, but that is my opinion for 75% of the shows I have listened to on the archive.

Greatest show I ever saw!

Two drummers, two axes, two keyboard players-- Add the world's most melodic bass player and a world class saxaphonist. Can there be too much of a good thing? ___Jeff Mattson
Great show. First set strong (highlights are the last two tunes), second even stronger.
One of the only problems I have with the 2nd set is during Est-proph. Did Vince think it was cute to break out the cheesy-sax-synth when Marsalis was right there?? I just dont get it-Im sure there were other sounds available in his sound banks. Nevertheless, nothing will take away all the pleasure of this show.. One of the best from this year.

The lineup this rare evening is inspiring. The boys take things in new directions; jazz is present all night long. The Dead have always had a tendency toward the looseness of a jazzy groove; it makes me happy to find it prominent and revisited here.

It can be stated that this is a top-notch, late '91 glossy-tight show. It may seem muddled to some ears but my take is that it's 8 musicians playing at once. I can assume if I was in that house it would have sounded just perfectly fine. '91 is a legendary year with Hornsby sitting in; I agree with all who declare he rallied this Band back up to old standards from years of lore. Rock on. We Are Everywhere.

top notch versions of all the jerry tunes, but that estimated ... yikes

This is a good show with a great setlist and Branford. Its just not a great show, however. The performance is too cluttered with instruments and I dont think Branford really adds too much on this night. Hornsby would have been enough. Its not what the Dead play its how they play it. I'm sure you've all heard that one before, and it applies on this night as well. The show is a bit overated but still worthy of a download.

What is was what it is!! Excellant

Good show, GREAT TIME.

For those who think this is overrated, what qualifies for a great show? Shakedown>cc>train, high time, cassidy, deal, SOTM could be the best played versions of all time. HSF>est>dark star was incredible! The jamming was so intense i could not move, just stand there in utter awe of the sound coming out. I was at the first 7 shows of this tour and i thought 9-4 could not be topped! I get tired of people who can't stand 90's dead. The stuff with hornsby is incredible and he put life back into Jerry by challenging him on stage. This IS the best show of the 90' from start to finish, nothing else compares. I realize this is just my opinion, but to say this show is overrated is just nonsense.

As I write this review from one that was there, IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm reminisce back to Delhi in the late Summer of ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ80, pockets stuffed with pairs for the Fall Tour, lacking only the ride. Fate intercedes, myself and Pete bid adieu and head for the Spectrum. Five days later, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂChester. Thinking back to this day 15 years ago and so many shows in between, a serendipitous decision to board the train and head to the Garden, sans ticket. Never a doubt, hooked up, GarciaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs side as usual, 1st level Paramount box. Home Again.

Lights! The boys make their way onstage, but wait, I count Eight. Holy crap here we go! The tuning leaves no pretense as to whatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs going to open, but thereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs this funky sound emanating from PhilÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs bass that I havenÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt heard before, some sort of new pick that he experimenting with, or so IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm told, and already the Garden is shrinking from a 18k seat venue to a tight downtown club.

Tell me this town ainÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt got no heart? Shakedown- perfectly blended, Garcia playing underneath, conjuring the days of his dad, the bandleader.
ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂWeÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre an ensemble tonite, guys. Got that Vince?ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ

C.C., see what youÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂd da doneÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Branford and Bobby leading the way, Bruce tapping awayÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ.wait, whatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs thisÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂDylan tuneÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ4th St.? NopeÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂTrain to CryÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ some yells behind me. Oh yeah.

September in Manhattan, aah mother American night. Bobby takes us to Route 66 and back, ripping a diaphragm busting BTW. The band is taking itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs time, listeningÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ feeling.

WhatÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs it gonna be? Could be Atlhea, that'd be good, but why stop there, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂcause you know what IÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂm saying. Jerry, Bruce, Branford, and the Aud settle in.

Lost now on a country mile, in his CaddyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂlistening to the lyrics one gets the impression that ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂFurtherÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ could have been a more appropriate name, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂspecially since ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ came before ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂiÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ, didnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt he?

Are you a Closer? Billy and Mickey, remember them? Setting the pace, understated crescendos, thumping tom tom accentsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂwhereÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs GarciaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ laying in wait behind Phil and Bruce, hush sweet chilÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ, for youÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂve never heard this before.

WeÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂll be back in just a little bitÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ.

Great show.

Anyone know where I can get a downloadable copy?

Thanks.

ralph.verrilli@vistagy.com

Musically the best show I saw. Too young to have caught any of the Jerry/Miles Davis synergy but I gotta think a little piece of it was manifesting that night. I had seen a few shows up until this one but when I walked out of MSG that night I knew I was a deadhead and a jazz fan for life. Yeah the recordings rarely do a show justice you can debate about the mix and how differences affect the listening experience but overall this show is RED HOT. A lot of folks now wanna schwag the 90's but on an on night the boys were still making some of the best music ever. I think this show can stand with any show from any band configuration of any decade. Some of us like that jazzy thang.

A great show! go to gdlive.com, the Shn SB is there for download

Regarding the download of this show, it does indeed sound a bit "cluttered," as someone else commented. I'm not sure if that comes down to the mixing itself, or the fact that the band has Jerry soloing, Branford soloing, Bruce soloing, etc. In some ways, it's almost too much of a good thing-- though the band is no doubt enthusiastic. In my very humble opinion, though, Branford sounds a little out of place on some of the tunes. Whereas he's amazing on Eyes of the World in the legendary 3/29/90 show, here he just sounds too jazzy at times, like on Black Throated Wind.

This show is great stuff, Bradford adds spark to an already great jerry/bruce combo, and the drums seem to fall into place, 90's dead has lots of great moments.
email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com happy to share.

it's a flac. they sound nicer.

brandord. bruce. whole show. nuff said.

this is a remarkable show.

one of the best. a MUST dowload

This recording pretty well guts this performance...believe me it sounded much more energized than what we have here. Can't exactly put my finger on it, but it just sounds a bit hollow and empty of the heat with which it ws played.

Which is pretty much my take on the 90's anyway... I've always thought that Brent's passing did something to Jerry. You can't blame it all on the drugs and illness. Seems that the blistering guitar licks and mega soul vocals so evident in '89 was just never there again...after the Spring of '90. Saw many shows in 90-91...not as many in the next few years, but it never was the same. Meaning Jerry never was the same.

Anyway...sorry. I could go on and on. The recording is clear and good enough, but souless, and the show was excellent. But I would never want to put this on for somone not in the know, and say "this is the Dead..." Worth the DL for posterity alone.

Rip snorting soundquality really brings out the Shakedown. And the first set is classic. Dark Stars became shorter and less frequent after 1990, but this one has Branford and is one of the last meaty versions. Definitely a must download.

I went to play of Garden shows and do not think this was among the best - No question Marsalis is a wonderful addition but the band is out of snyc and misses alot of qeues. Great show to be sure but not one of their best even with the DS sorry.

I do think that this show is SLIGHTLY overrated. However, I don't think it is a 2 star show either. IMHO, Spring, Summer, and West Coast Fall of 1991 offered better played and better energy versions of every tune played this evening (with the possible exception of Dark Star just b/c I think every one is it's own world). Guest musicians, what Deadbase says, and whether you have the personal bias of having been there is meaningless, what I care about and what I review on the site is how good it is when I listen now, not whether I was there or whether Branford was there. If everyone is in agreement that 3-29-90 is a 5 star show(which I agree with), and that this night is NO 3-29-90 (which I also agree with), then this is less than 5 stars, hence my 4 star rating. Some 5 star 1991 shows in my opinion: 6-17-91, 5-10-91, 6-25-91, 4-1-91.

I think sometimes that this was the last shining moment. Jerry doesn't really stand out on any guitar solos, and I think he is laying back to let Branford do his thing. Jerry's singing is heart felt though.

CC> Train, BT Wind, High Time all are good. Dark Star>Drumz>Dark Star is excellent, but what really does it is the SOTM and the encore Baby Blue, give it a listen!

in the grand scheme of "sonic landscapes" I like this show...not the "best" or any favorites by any stretch but there is some nice music done here...besides the obvious opener and others mentioned I love Branford on this SOTM...that song beautifully incorporates him into the mix without any "clutter" whatsoever...this show probably will make more than an occasional appearance in the disc player.

A legendary show. I think that
some people just like to get a reaction
by saying that a great show is overrated.
Train to Cry in itself is all you need.

This was a great show ..... I was there .....It sounds just fine and the set list is to die for.... Branford only makes this show go from a 4.5 to a 5 star show and I agree One of the best of the 90's for sure :)

Hey Terrapin...were you at this show?

DeadBase rated this the best show of 1991 and the 2nd best of the 90's!!!
Of the 26 previous reviewers only 2 gave this less than 4 stars.One of those "Kuba" also recognized that this is a great show but downgraded for sound issues."Terrapin31590" stands alone in thinking this was mediocre". It would be a shame to miss this show based on one ill-thought-out review. DOWNLOAD NOW!!!!!!

I must file a dissenting opinion regarding what I believe to be one of the most overrated shows of the 90s. I am a firm believer in rating a show on its own merits and of avoiding comparisons to other eras. However, in this case, it is hard NOT to put this show up against the other Marsalis shows, particularly the first two, 3/29/90 and 12/31/90. When done, you will no doubt conclude this is by far the weakest of the three (I'm not including 12/10/93 or 12/16/94) and a perfect illustration of the axiom that the whole is less than the sum of the parts.

On paper, this show should be a slam dunk. Middle of a long MSG run, killer set list, and the aforementioned Mr. Marsalis; however, the sonic landscape often seems cluttered, the players unable to find where to space themselves within the broader context of the music. Whereas the Nassau '90 show perfectly showed how improvisation is done, riffs and leads weaving between Garcia, Marsalis and Mydland (check out the Eyes and Estimated on that set for specific reference), here, everyone seems to want to jump in the pool at the same time, limiting the sound of each while muddling the music generally. This is particularly true on the Estimated Prophet, where Vince (more on him later) seems to be clashing, as opposed to complementing, Marsalis in the outro jam. This is a situation where 8 players are at least one, possibly two, too many. Most songs would have been better performed had Bruce sat out and just allowed Vince to take the key part, or vice versa, or Branford passing on some leads. A song like High Time, which would have benefitted from a shimmering sax solo is just a flaccid bore because no one seems to want to step away and let someone else take the lead.

I have to reserve a separate criticism for Vince. Now I'm usually one to come to Vincenzo's defense, he wasn't that bad, the last 18 months were more about Jerry's declining health than Vince's poor playing, etc ... however, here, his limitations, not as a musician, but as an interpreter of the Dead's music are glaring. This is particularly true on Dark Star, where he apparently never learned anything other than the basic chord pattern. He either never "got" or never got around to listening to quality Dark Stars because his limited knowledge/creativity ends up dragging the whole number down. I would add Slipknot to that criticism, another place where you would think the music practically BEGGED for long, creative, jazzy riffs, never seems to get going. There were just certain tunes Vince not only added little, but TOOK AWAY from the song, unfortunately, with a talent like Marsalis on the stage, Vince's shortcomings were just that much more magnified.

I don't want to completely flame this show, there are a few bright spots like Shakedown, CC Rider/Train to Cry, and for me at least, the Franklin's Tower (the one number where leads where passed around generously); however, those highlights are far outweighed by the remainder of the show, where the octet just never seems to figure out a comfortable groove and the jams just never happen. Not only does this pale in comparison to the prior Branford shows (any head who does not own a copy of 3/29/90 and have the 2d set memorized has something wrong with them) but is mediocare in relation to the rest of this tour and certainly the other tours from 1991.

This is *still* and will always be a 2 star effort in my book.

Jer was a bit cranky during this time and most of the MSG run shows it. This night, however, was quite good. Nice first set and a monster second set. Money in the bank when Marsalis sits in.

Like the subject says this is an awesome show! I love everything about it. Branford is a bad man (of course the guys are too). The sound quality is insanely good, but did anyone notice the fluctuations in the tape hiss when the music not going? I did and itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs kind of weird but if it doesnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt affect the music itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs not that bad. Anyway itÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs defiantly worth a DL. Peace

Everyone has their list of over-rated shows, so take Terrapin031590 review below worth a grain of salt. I'm not a huge fan of 1991 personally, too cluttered sounding for my taste...however there are some things on here that can't be denied...Shakedown Street, Deal, Help/ Slip / Frank, Estimated, Standing On The Moon...these are all great 90s versions...Dark Star is intersting...I happen to love the Slipknot! myself...this is one of the best shows of 1991...(04-01-1991, 06-14-1991, 06-17-1991, 09-26-1991 are some others off hand...)

Although I only saw about 50 shows, I was very lucky to catch some amazing performances (4/4/87, 4/6/87, 9/18/87, 9/16,18,19,20/90, 6/17/91), including this one. My second "Dark Star" and "Help/Slip" (in the same set!!!!!). That alone would have made this night complete, except I got to see Branford play with the mighty GD. Brilliant and inspired from start to finish. Download this one - you will not be disappointed.

To me, this show is about one thing. Its about the ride. What a trip to be on the floor at the Garden for this gem. Its not about how the band plays as an octet or how Vince 'gets' or doesnt 'get' Dark Star. Sorry others feel that way. This is such a clear recording of a special performance, one that began circulating at a time when Bruce was kicking Jerry in the tail and pushing the band to greater limits. Limits only surpassed with the presence of Branford. I might agree that the other Branford shows have more sizzle than this one, but 9/10 is a superior recording to the '90 shows IMO. I'm sure I could benefit from a listen to all the Branford shows this weekend and revise this later...

Oh grate show by the way ....

The dead were great and Pigpen was a big part of that----ranting over show 5!!!

There is nothing wrong w/ the sound on this one. Get it just for the fact that Branford is on it.

This show is great. I love GD shows with sax, specialy this is the great, but this sounboard recording is sleeply, there is no energy. I am advising you to try great audience recording GD 1990-03-29 with Branford Marsalis on sax. It's only second set, but the sound is amazing.

The boys were really reeling and rocking this night... phil is especially hot - he just keeps that bass pumping all through the show...
Really great sound for this show as well - and what reviewer would not mention branford! he's fits so perfectly into the band its like he's always been there and more than that (though he does get a little lost at times for instance in deal he doesn't move away from single bar blasts - but they're kinda brilliant too) he's a little soft in the mix but still clear with those fluid clarion runs of his! In help/frank/slip he slips a gear and shoots the show into overdrive...

Lets face facts folks - you've downloaded the show are reading this to get a little more spice while you're listening, well consider this: listen to the beginning of help on the way if you want a serious lesson in group improvisation... wow...

Excellent. Probably the evenings highlight is the sax-blowing, rocking in a laid-back Dead styled "Deal."

The rest of the evening is top-notch, with that sort of energy, with a setlist largely drawn from this period, which, to anyone most familiar with their work in the 60's through the tailend of the 70's...will sound pretty foreign for the most part.

Still, a great show, plenty of energy and passion to go around, perfect sound quality. Check it out.

This is a very nice show. I cannot add much to what others have said, except...

Standing On The Moon is probably the most delicate, soulful version I have heard. This always great song is elevated to new heights with Branford in the mix. His sax weaves in and out in such a manner that I think to hear the song everafter, it will be missing that something extra that Branford provided.

truly one of the all time greatest.

I LOVE THE DEAD WITH BRENT BUT I'LL GIVE THIS A SHOT. STILL I THINK THE TWO KEYBOARDS GOT TO BE A BIT MUCH SOMETIMES.BRUCE IS VERY TALENTED,VINCE IS KINDA CHEESY.I SAW MANY,MANY SHOWS OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD CATCHING MANY TOURS. BUT I THINK MUSICALLY THE DEAD TOOK A WIDE TURN HIRING VINCE TO FILL BRENTS SPOT.SOME PEOPLE WISH THEY DIDN'T HIRE ANYONE IMMEDIATELY TO FILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE 90 FALL TOUR (INCLUDING JERRY) IN THE END IT'S STILL THE DEAD AND WE ALL NO THEY CAN DO NO WRONG IT'S ALL OPINION.

What do you get when you mesh 3 genius bandleaders (Jerry, Bruce, and Branford)(Sorry Bobby, I am a fan of your playing but I don't include you in this particular category) with the greatest rock and roll band of all time? Why, you get an inspired show like this of course! This is a treat to listen to. The sound quality is top-notch. You can hear the literal and musical smiles that the musicians trade on stage. Listen to such nuggets as Branford and Bruce chasing each other around in a game of musical cat and mouse while Jerry soulfully sings High Time, Jerry, Bruce, and Branford all pushing each other on the Slipknot, Bruce's runs on the Takes Alot to Laugh, and the Branford jam and nuclear Bobby in Lovelight. I'll end my gushing here as there is pretty much a highlight on every song during this show. Check it out.

I am a 1960s and 1970s Deadhead, and have downloaded many shows from this period, and have all the officially released GD LPs/CDs to 1979. This is the first show that I've downloaded from the 1980s and 1990s, which from a 70s freak is testimony in itself to the quality of the playing. Incidentally, when I burnt my CD of the show I moved Help On The Way>>>Franklin (which opened set 2) to disk 3 (along with the encore),to allow the 74 mins of Estimated>>> Turn On to run uninterrupted on a single CD (disk 2). Such a practice will not be to everyone's tastes, but it makes disk 2 a great listen

Lemme just say first that for a while I couldn't stand the vince welnick sound and when they added bruce to the sonic orgy that is the grateful dead i thought "well,thats more like it" figuring that it makes more sense(to me)that they find not one person but two people to fill brents shoes. but i still found myself not enjoying the shows like i used to.........until 9/10/91.
I was suppose to go to this show (and it would've been my first show)but i opted to go to a party instead.BAD CALL MAN BAAAD CALL.so about a month later while browsing through one of those cd stores where the asshole owner gets rich by selling pirated concert cds for obscene prices i found the show that i missed last month and wow
just wow. i can't begin to tell you how much this show changed my view of vince & bruce and their place in the grateful dead. i love the grateful dead,i love vince,i love bruce,i love branford,i love m.s.g. and just in case you were wondering i plan on naming my first born internet archive.

Anyone whos reading reviews or downloading from this site knows that the Grateful Dead were the only ones who did that they did, not the best. On this particular night, they were the best band in the entire world playing at that moment in time. There is no question about it.
Every version is one for the ages. Listen to Jerrys relationship with the song High Time, he sings it with a sage sort of weathered beautiful wisdom that can only be sung from 20 years of getting to know a tune. The band also knows what Jerry means and the playing reflects it. Brandford and Bruces contribution are first rate, subtle yet assertive.
I'll say it. This is one of the top 10 Grateful Dead concerts of all time. They knew it when they were playing it.
Bobby's verile assertions on Estimated Prophet and Black Throated wind capture the real American zen cowboy ethic that Weir/Barlow were so good at portraying. They dance elegantly between the Garcia/Hunter epics Shakedown Street and Dark Star, respectively.
I could go on, just download this show. If you are an uptight 70's only GD collector do yourself a favor and humble your innards.

Thanks for this upload, the sound quality is an A+.

my birthday on this night. i feel like the grateful dead gave me a gift at this show. when branford walked out and tuned up before shakedown i didnt think he was going to be there all night. but he was and it was one of the best post brent shows i have ever been to. i read the review in dead base and thought this guy is just jellous he didnt get in. every note from this show was crisp and clear and blissful. i'm sure the sound on this site is killer. no matter though, get it. branford, bruce, and the reast of them all night long. before the show my girlfriend and friends got together and bought a cake and snuck it inside the show. i was sitting on the floor on phils side just level with the back of the sbd. during the break i went to expell some fluids. when i came back they had candels lit on the cake and were singing the birthday song to me. it seemed that after a few seconds a lot of people were singing it to me. and when i blew out the candles i herd a lot of people cheer. it semed like the majority of the people in MSG were singing and cheering. i'll never forget that and i want to say thankyou to all of you because you are the ones who helped make this show so special.

I lucked out & traded a saturday tix for this night of the run(Tues). Who knew it was Branford night. We settled behind the stage where the speakers also faced the crowd. Wow is right. An excellent show & another excellent run @ MSG in '91.

Let me start by saying that I'm a big fan of (primarily) 70's Dead, and I don't consider the 90's a particularly compelling era for their music. On the other hand, Jerry and Bruce were born to play together and -- when you throw Branford Marsalis into the mix, and stir it together for an entire show -- something big is gonna happen.
This show SMOKES! Shakedown, High Time, Franklin's Tower, and Estimated Prophet are versions for the ages, just about everything else is merely breathtaking, Jerry's voice and energy level are "on", and the recording quality of this board is nothing short of spectacular. Each player/instrument is perfectly blended in the mix, the stereo separation, dynamic range, and imaging are excellent, and each lead gets its proper aural showcase as it appears. I've been doing a bit of downloading lately, but my *listening* queue is completely hosed up because I can't seem to pry these discs from my player!

Yikes. This is a top 10 show, maybe a top 5 (yes, of all-time). What are you waiting for? Get it!