Jorma Kaukonen: Too Many Years

A lifetime or two after his years with Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukonen has settled into a rootsy folk blues bag. His latest, Too Many Years… (Relix Records 2094: 68:23), includes faithful renditions of Fred McDowell’s “You Got to Move,” Funny Paper Smith’s “Fools Blues” and Rev. Gary Davis’ “Say No to the Devil.” An accomplished fingerstyle acoustic player, as he demonstrates on Johnny Cash’s “Home of the Blues,” Kaukonen is joined here by organist-pianist Pete Sears and second guitarist-mandolin player Michael Falzarano. He breaks out the electric guitar on his “Hypnotation Blues,” on a Chet Atkins-styled arrangement of “Nine Pound Hammer” and a jumped-up boogie rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.” He also shows off some serious slide guitar and pedal steel technique along the way. An intimate gem.

Originally Published January 1, 2000