California mandolinist Butch Waller grew from the same Palo Alto bluegrass scene as banjoist Jerry Garcia—the two took acid for the first time together in 1965—and it is musicians from that world that populate Waller’s new all acoustic, mostly instrumental, and entirely lovely Waltz Collection. Leading the California group High Country for many years (Garcia sometimes filled in on banjo), Waller’s latest—sold via his website—has him working in 3/4-time, a mode that allows him seemingly easy access to an elegiac folk elegance. Even during the spritely “Jagged Blue Waltz,” Waller finds spooky turns aplenty. Joined by Sandy Rothman on banjo (a longtime Garcia collaborator), Brian Godchaux on fiddle (younger brother of Grateful Dead keyboardist Keith), and a host of other Waller regulars, Waltz Collection is, by deliberate turns, sad and sweet. “Golden Gate Waltz” contains the album’s only vocals, a nostalgic duet between Waller and his daughter Juniper. Restrained and effective, the two step gracefully out of the way for dobroist Jim Mintun to take a few choruses, music makers making music.