GarciaLive Volume 15 Unearths Keystone Korner 1971 Jam

Fifty-four years ago tonight, Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders took the stage at San Francisco’s beloved Keystone Korner and turned a late-spring evening into a soulful exploration of groove and improvisation. Midway through their first set on May 21, 1971, the duo launched into a jammed-out take on Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made to Love Her,” electrifying the club and leaving the audience in awe.

The Keystone Korner Moment

The historic session captures a moment when jazz, rock and R&B converged in a small basement venue. Keystone Korner, co-founded by Todd Barkan in 1970, had quickly become a proving ground for adventurous artists. On this night, Garcia’s fluid guitar lines and Saunders’ deep, Hammond B-3 swirls ignited the room. Photographer Bob Marks and Roberto Rabanne documented the heat on film, preserving shots of Garcia leaning into a searing solo and Saunders grinning behind his keys.

Through the new GarciaLive Volume 15 release, fans can hear every note, from Garcia’s plaintive riffs to Saunders’ bluesy fills, backed by bassist John Kahn and drummer Bill Vitt. The 2-CD set revisits that very first set, offering a full band transcription and a remastered sound that brings the club’s damp walls back to life.

The Players Behind The Groove

Garcia and Saunders first teamed up in the early 1970s, forging an onstage chemistry that blended the Grateful Dead guitarist’s exploratory ethos with Saunders’ jazz-influenced soul. Kahn, a longtime Garcia collaborator, locks in with Vitt’s steady pocket, giving the front men ample room to roam.

Saunders, a Bay Area stalwart who had worked with the likes of John Handy and Cannonball Adderley, brought a gospel-tinged approach to the sessions. Garcia, meanwhile, was exploring solo outlets outside the Dead’s psychedelic universe. Together they found a sweet spot: winding through gospel classics, R&B covers and original instrumentals.

‘i Was Made To Love Her’: A Showstopper

Midway through set one, the band paused mid-groove and launched into Stevie Wonder’s 1967 chart-topper. The result was a near-10-minute exploration, stretching Wonder’s concise pop form into a freewheeling jam. Saunders’ chordal punctuations and Garcia’s bending notes transformed the familiar melody, while Kahn and Vitt kept the rhythmic engine humming.

That performance stands as a highlight in the GarciaLive series, which has already delivered gems like Volume Ten – a dreamy May 20, 1990 Hilo, Hawaii set from the Jerry Garcia Band. As the official Jerry Garcia Instagram account recently noted:

“Trade winds, tie-dye, and a day to remember in Hilo. 35 years ago today — May 20th, 1990 — the Jerry Garcia Band played a dreamy set in Hilo, Hawaii now preserved on GarciaLive Volume Ten.”
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Each entry in the GarciaLive catalog deepens our understanding of Garcia’s musical journey, from early collaborations with jazz luminaries to his later forays with bluegrass and orchestral arrangements.

Today’s release of Volume 15 shines a spotlight on the Keystone Korner date, which was originally intended as a one-off studio session but turned into a legendary night of live spontaneity. For anyone curious about Garcia’s post-Dead explorations or Saunders’ keyboard mastery, it’s a must-listen.

The album arrives on CD and vinyl, complete with liner notes by producer Christopher Sabec and new essays reflecting on the venue’s brief but landmark run as a jazz and blues haven. Whether you’re a longtime Deadhead or new to Garcia’s solo universe, Volume 15 offers a vivid snapshot of improvisation at its peak.

With archival photos, fresh remastering and a killer set list, GarciaLive Volume 15 cements the legacy of two masters in full flight – and proves that some performances only get richer with time.