Rex

On the second release compiling various cover versions of songs made famous by CaptainTrips, while benefiting the Grateful Dead’s Rex Foundation, tunes crackle to life with Garcia’s charisma appearing at the heart of each song. Jerry Jams for Rex II features a slow-burn version of “The Wheel” (Railroad Earth), a warm late Jerry-era ballad, “Mission in the Rain” (New Monsoon), a mid-Jerry era beauty, “Althea” (Yonder Mountain String Band), a brief snippet of ethereal charm, “Crazy Fingers” (Umphrey’s McGee), a transcendent reading of “Fire on the Mountain” (Widespread Panic), a robust take on “Standing on the Moon” (Bruce Hornsby), and a wonderful X-factor moment on the downloadonly “They Love Each Other” (ALO) that closes this welcome release from numerous vaults.