New Monsoon: “New Monsoon Live”

Staff Report
Posted: 07/31/2009 01:00:00 AM PDT

If they haven’t done so already, fans of New Monsoon are advised to add this live album to their collection of CDs from one of the best jam bands to come out of Marin County.

The double disc set was recorded over a three-night run in Texas last September. It comes on the heels of the 11-year-old band’s most successful studio album, “New Monsoon V,” produced by former Grateful Dead sound engineer John Cutler, next-door-neighbor of electric guitarist/singer Jeff Miller in Forest Knolls.

This is New Monsoon’s first live album in five years, and the first official release to feature the band in its cleaner, more stripped-down configuration as a five-piece group - drummer Sean Hutchinson and bassist Marshall Harrell along with founding members Miller, Bo Carper on acoustic guitar, vocals and banjo, and keyboadist-singer Phil Ferlino.

Without its tabla player and percussionist, who left to raise families, the band may be smaller and less world music focused, but its sound is just as big, even majestic at times.

Named after the El Ni-o storms that pounded the Marin coastline in 1997-98, when every day seemed to bring a new monsoon, the band’s live sound reflects a kind of stormy power, with unbelievably tight vocal harmonies, tuneful original songs and thrilling flights of Grateful Dead-inspired instrumental improvisation.

“The Other Side,” one of the band’s signature songs, for instance, is more exciting live than on its original studio recording. Produced by theband members themselves, this is one of the most vibrant live albums you’re going to hear.

Buy It: “New Monsoon Live,” independent, www.newmonsoon.com; $17.50

- Paul Liberatore

Marin IJ