Stars in My Crown

1	Heart Temporary 5:12
2	Fur Peace Rag 3:00
3	By the Rivers of Babylon 4:54
4	Living in the Moment 3:56
5	Late Breaking News 3:03
6	Come Back Baby 5:47
7	Mighty Hard Pleasure 3:31
8	No Demon 3:06
9	There's a Table Sitting in Heaven 3:54
10	The Man Comes Around 4:03
11	A Life Well Lived 4:00
12	Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown? 3:55
13	Preacher Picked the Guitar 3:08
14	Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown? Instrumental 1:03

Barnes & Noble

Putting his electric guitar aside for a spell, Jorma Kaukonen turns to his acoustic instrument for a folk-tinged look at spirituals, old and new. The results, as anyone familiar with Kaukonen’s brilliant playing would expect, are masterful. Not that virtuoso picking is the sole raison d’être of the project. Jorma is also a forthrightly appealing vocalist, a fine songwriter, and a willing collaborator. On this heartfelt album, he‘s assisted by such sympathetic musicians as multi-instrumentalist Barry Mitterhoff, bassist Byron House, and slide guitarist Sally Van Meter (but not his Hot Tuna partner, bassist Jack Casady); some tracks feature discreet use of strings, backing vocals, and other agreeable touches that add finesse and flair. Ranging over material from Johnny Cash, Lightnin' Hopkins, and others, as well as his own highly personal originals, Kaukonen reasserts his position as a major figure in the contemporary acoustic music scene. Now in his mid-60s, this former Jefferson Airplane mainstay has gracefully evolved into a grand old man of roots music; his mentors and models would be proud. Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

It's interesting the way things go in circles. In the early '60s, Jorma Kaukonen (or Jerry, as he was then) played blues guitar in the coffeehouses of the South Bay Area, sometimes with Janis Joplin. Now, after stints with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, he's back to his first love, mixing blues, gospel, and country, backed by some excellent musicians. It's a blissful self-indulgence, laid-back but still quite heartfelt, although it has to be said that not all his material meets the standards ("Heart Temporary" is a decent opener, but not in the same class as "No Demon" or Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around"), although "A Life Well Lived" is a lovely piece of work. There are some excellent covers, a couple from the Rev. Gary Davis, and a delicious version of "By the Rivers of Babylon." As you'd expect, after four and a half decades, Kaukonen can pick a mean guitar, but he's content to let others take the lead role, especially Barry Mitterhoff's mandolin work. All in all, it makes for a great package, one to be savored over and over for its gentle, soulful heart. Chris Nickson