On December 7, 1991, Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia and mandolist David Grisman along with bassist Jim Kerwin and percussionist/fiddle player Joe Craven performed at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. The two-set night leaned heavily on traditional folk tunes, which included a take on the Yuletide classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The Jerry Garcia Music Arts has reissued the song as a single just in time for Christmas.
The four-piece ensemble delivered an eight-plus minute instrumental take on the tune that is also known as “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” to cap their second set that night. The song that dates back to the 15th century was originally issued on the 2002 compilation Acoustic Disc 100% Handmade Music, Vol. 6. Listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” below:
