Saxophonist Dave McMurray shared a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “To Lay Me Down,” featuring Jamey Johnson on vocals. McMurray’s take on the Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter composition is set for the saxophonist’s upcoming tribute album, Grateful Deadication 2, due out on May 19 via Blue Note Records.
Grateful Deadication 2 follows McMurray’s first interaction in his Dead tribute series arriving in 2021. McMurray previously previewed the latest collection with “Scarlet Begonias,” featuring Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge on vocals. The saxophonist now follows with “To Lay Me Down” with lead vocals from renowned singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson.
“I first met Jamey when we were on the same tour together,” McMurray recalled. “I’d look forward each night to hear him do ‘In Color’ alone, with just his voice and guitar, and it was always amazing. So when it came to finding the perfect vocal for ‘To Lay Me Down,’ I thought of Jamey right away. What he did with the song is so raw and emotional and tells the story in a whole different way. He got way inside the lyric and it just felt like nothing I’d ever heard before.”
McMurray’s “To Lay Me Down” also contains contributions from Dead-releated musicians pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz, guitarist Larry Campbell and bassist Don Was. Listen below:
