Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Dave McMurray continues to preview his Grateful Dead tribute album, Grateful Deadication, by sharing his cover of “Franklin’s Tower.” Grateful Deadication is set for release through Blue Note Records on July 16.
The album contains 10 tracks featuring nine Grateful Dead covers as he recorded “Touch Of Grey” both as an instrumental and with vocalist Herschel Boone. Dave McMurray previously unveiled a rendition of “Loser” in which he’s joined by Bob Weir and Wolf Bros and Bettye LaVette.
“Franklin’s Tower” was co-written by Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter and Bill Kreutzmann. The Grateful Dead released the original on their 1975 studio album, Blues For Allah. McMurray offers an instrumental version of the track. Dave is backed on “Franklin’s” by bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady, keyboardist Maurice O’Neal, guitarist Wayne Gerard and percussionist Larry Fratangelo.
Check out a visualizer for the track directed by Rodrick Silverman:
