Live At The Bottom Line
Omnivore, 2023
9/10
Listen to Live At The Bottom Line
The co-founder of Jefferson Airplane in the mid-’60s, the guitarist Jorma Kaukonen also had much success with his side project, Hot Tuna, as well as an exceptional solo career.
Live At The Bottom Line captures Kaukonen in 2003, where 16 tracks span from Blue Country Heart, Hot Tuna, Quah, Reverend Gary Davis, and more.
The rhythmic and smooth “Blue Railroad Train” opens the listen with Kaukonen’s warm vocals alongside meticulous guitar playing, and “Waiting For A Train” follows with much melody entering the calm display of timeless folk music ideas.
Deeper into the set, “Do Not Go Gentle” is full of indeed calm guitar playing that’s quite dreamy, while “I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave” finds a playful, bluesy place to reside with its meticulous nature.
The 2nd disc leads with the 11+ minutes of the spiritual song, “Good Shepherd”, where Kaukonen’s vivid storytelling is illuminated from his superb guitar playing, and closer to the end, the swift picking of “Just Because” brings some bluegrass spirit, including mandolin, to the jam band-ish interaction.
Largely considered one of the best guitarists of all time, and an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Kaukonen, who is in his ‘80s, is still active today, and this set pulls songs that span many avenues of his career and is packaged with excellent liner notes from drummer (The Mahavishnu Project, Nels Cline, Todd Rundgren), author, and The ProgCast host, Gregg Bendian.
Travels well with: The Felice Brothers- From Dreams To Dust; Calexico- Algiers