Gov’t Mule leader and former Allman Brother Band guitarist Warren Haynes hosted his 28th Christmas Jam concert in Asheville, NC on Saturday night. In keeping with tradition, Haynes and the other artists on the bill were all joined by a mouthwatering cross section of special guests.

George Porter Jr.’s set was no exception to this longstanding rule. The Meters bassist was fronted by a stellar group that included guitarist Eric Krasno and keyboardist John Medeski, as well as fellow New Orleanians Branford Marsalis on saxophone and Terence Higgins on drums. The ensemble delivered a run of Meters tunes before Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir helped them close out their set with renditions of The Dead’s “Sugaree” and the New Orleans classic “Iko Iko.”

Marsalis also got around a good bit during the concert, joining Gov’t Mule for the Allman Brothers tunes “Dreams” and “Mountain Jam” and sitting in with Weir on the Dead numbers “He’s Gone,” “Eyes of the World,” “Truckin'” and “Ripple.” (Watch Marsalis discuss his appreciation for the Grateful Dead in a 1996 interview here.) The saxophonist even took the stage with Michael McDonald, adding his chops to the singer’s tune “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).”

In related news, Jerry Garcia’s Facebook page recently shared a delightful story from Bruce Hornsby, who once prank called Garcia by pretending he was Ernie K-Doe.

George Porter Jr. and Friends, Christmas Jam 2016 (setlist via Panic Stream)

01 How Much Time
02 *Just Kissed My Baby >
03 He Bite Me (The Dragon)
04 #Sugaree >
05 #Aiko-Aiko

* With Marcus King On Guitar
# With Bob Weir On Guitar And Vocals