Spirit: A loving tribute to Jerry Garcia and the spiritual songs he performed

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Jerry Garcia would no doubt be moved to hear their collective efforts on …The Spiritual Songs He Performed, so much so he’d probably want to participate himself?!”
Glide Magazine, May, 2020

“What makes these versions so stirring–and a listener certainly doesn’t need to be a believer to appreciate their message–is the conviction these musicians and singers put into their covers…Jerry would have dug it.” 
– Jeff Tamarkin, Relix Magazine, August 2020

This album could not have been made without the help of our family, friends and fans. We would like to thank all of our IndieGoGo supporters for the the first round of funding and an extra special thanks to Mike and Cheryl Coppa, Andy Logan, PHILLY, Rick Turner and Leo Elliott.



A new album produced by Maria Muldaur and The Garcia Project.

A collection of spiritual songs that Jerry Garcia had performed throughout his life.

The artists on the SPIRIT album include:
• Mik Bondy (The Garcia Project, Acoustically Speaking)
• Buzz Buchanan (Jerry Garcia Band, Juice Newton)
• Dan Crea (The Garcia Project)
• Jason Crosby (Phil & Friends, Moonalice, Doobie Decibel System)
• Jacob Jolliff (Yonder Mountain String Band)
• Gary Kaye (Mill Valley Musician)
• Jacklyn LaBranch (Jerry Garcia Band)
• Maria Muldaur (Jerry Garcia Band)
• Tommy Nagy (The Garcia Project)
• Peter Rowan (Old and In The Way)
• Rick Turner (Co-Founder of Alembic, Wall of Sound, Model 1 guitar)
• Kat Walkerson (The Garcia Project, Acoustically Speaking)

Kat Walkerson, Maria Muldaur, Peter Rowan and Mik Bondy – celebrating the recordings on the SPIRIT album!

Jerry Garcia performed many inspirational, spiritual and gospel songs over the course of his life. This album is a loving tribute to those songs and to Jerry Garcia’s beautiful spirit. The album will feature The Garcia Project’s (nationally touring tribute to classic Jerry Garcia Band) Mik Bondy and Kat Walkerson along with Maria Muldaur, The Garcia Project and other very special guests! Maria Muldaur will produce and direct the album.

“Hearing Jerry Garcia play and sing live for the first time, was an experience that I will never forget.” – Mik Bondy

I know that many others have enjoyed the passion and musical magic that Jerry Garcia brought to everything he did in his life. When I discovered the Jerry Garcia Band, in 1987, I was amazed and instantly hooked on the songs that he performed with his band, and the way he performed them. We used to call going to Jerry Garcia Band shows “Jerrys Church” and it really was a church-like experience for many of us. We would get our spiritual fill and guidance from the songs and messages that Jerry brought to us. Back then, we were treated with songs like Sisters and Brothers, The Maker, Throw out the Lifeline and Lucky Old Sun. These songs helped bring a positive, reflective and bonding experience to us all.

Rick Turner, Cofounder of Alembic
Mik Bondy, Buzz Buchanan and Kat Walkerson. Buzz was drummer for Jerry Garcia in 1977 and 1978.
Peter Rowan enjoying Mik Bondy’s TIGER guitar built by Leo Elliot at Scarlet Fire Guitars.

In 2010, The Garcia Project was formed and we starting diving in deep to the late 1970’s Jerry Garcia Band shows and found so many more spiritual gems. Songs like Strange Man, Who Was John, Magnificent Sanctuary Band and Ride Mighty High were just a few more of the great spiritual songs that Jerry brought to us.

The Garcia Project, along with some close friends of Jerry Garcia that have performed with him and understand the spiritual side of the music, are working to bring you a loving tribute album of these songs, performed in the way that Jerry arranged them. This special collection of songs and artists is a dream come true for me. This album will be a historical record of the songs, feelings and positive impact that Jerry Garcia introduced to so many of us.

Maria Muldaur will be singing on the album, and will also be the producer. She was an official member of The Jerry Garcia Band in 1978. She toured and performed with Jerry on the famous “Cats Under The Stars” tour and was on the Cats Under The Stars album as well. Maria has a great love for the music played by Jerry Garcia and for inspirational and spiritual music as well. Maria has produced a gospel album, “Walk by Faith – The gospel according to Maria Muldaur” along with many other grammy-nominated albums.

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Mik Bondy is a founding member of the Garcia Project, a nationally touring tribute band that performs classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976 – 1995. Mik has been gifted with two Jerry Garcia replica guitars and has spent years building a replica guitar “rig”. He will add his extraordinary guitar tone and feel, as well as his soulful vocals.  The Garcia Project band will provide the instrumentation for this tribute to Jerry Garcia’s wonderful arrangements of these beautiful gospel, spiritual and inspirational songs.

Kat Walkerson is a founding member of the Garcia Project, a nationally touring tribute band that performs classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976 – 1995. Kat Walkerson is an accomplished and beloved vocalist amongst Jerry Garcia’s fans, and adds her soulful and unique vocal stylings to the album.