In a remarkable release from Culture Factory - USA, guitar legend Jorma Kaukonen is offering fans an unprecedented glimpse into his early musical journey with Reno Road, a compilation of 26 previously unheard recordings. Captured by his lifelong friend and musical collaborator Jack Casady in the basement of Casady’s home, these tracks date back to the early 1960s—years before Kaukonen became a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Available on vinyl and CD, each track has been meticulously restored and remastered in high resolution, preserving the raw, intimate sound of those formative sessions.
These rare recordings transport listeners back to a time when Kaukonen was just beginning to explore fingerstyle blues guitar, inspired by his mentor Ian Buchanan. The Reno Road sessions mark an early chapter in Kaukonen's evolving style, recorded by Casady on a Wollensak tape recorder as Kaukonen played with unbridled passion. Casady unearthed the tapes 60 years later, collaborating with sound engineer Rick Sanchez to restore the audio, revealing the foundation of what would become a legendary musical career.
In the Reno Road liner notes, Kaukonen reflects:
“A lifetime ago, a confluence of events conspired to set me on the path that would define my life. In the spring of 1960 at Antioch College, the great guitarist Ian Buchanan opened the door to fingerstyle blues guitar. I moved to New York that summer, where I played guitar relentlessly, every non-working, non-sleeping moment. As I prepared to join my family in the Philippines, I stopped by Jack Casady’s house in Chevy Chase, where he recorded my playing. Decades later, these tapes have reopened a forgotten window into my musical history.”
The recordings on Reno Road showcase the deep-rooted friendship and artistic connection that still endures between Kaukonen and Casady. These raw, authentic performances capture the spirit and drive of a young artist honing his craft alongside a friend who would become his long-term musical partner.
Kaukonen continues:
“The seeds were planted here that have grown into the garden that has defined my life! My repertoire has grown, but these songs have continued to evolve as part of my ongoing collaboration with Jack. Thanks to Jack, Rick Sanchez, Culture Factory, Kevin Morgan, and my muse, Vanessa Kaukonen—each of whom helped bring this project to life.”
To celebrate this monumental release, Reno Road will debut at local record stores for Record Store Day on Friday, November 29, 2024. Starting December 6, CDs and vinyl will be available worldwide and online. To locate a participating record store, visit recordstoreday.com/stores.
