At a Rex Foundation Black Tie Dye Ball in the fall of 2005, the pervasive spirit of community, generosity and musical creativity helped to spark a special bond between the Zen Tricksters (the house band for the evening) and Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, former vocalist for the Grateful Dead. 

 Donna Jean’s musical connection with the Zen Tricksters goes beyond their obvious Grateful Dead history and influence. The exceptionally talented Zen Tricksters also can play that distinctive Muscle Shoals groove that formed much of Donna Jean’s musical upbringing.  Shortly after the benefit, they teamed up to forge a new musical direction with the band Donna Jean & the Tricksters, which the Grateful Dead alumna calls a “perfect fit.”   

 With Donna Jean, this new band will have the powerful voice and strong stage presence we’ve all come to know and love.  Her years with the Grateful Dead are remembered as some of the best; somehow the captivating aura of this talented female vocalist onstage with the good ol’ boys shot them into yet another musical stratosphere.  Before the Dead, Donna Jean learned from the best at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, singing backup vocals for Elvis Presley and working with such industry icons as Ahmet Ertegun and Tommy Dowd.  

 Rounding out Donna Jean & The Tricksters are musicians quite familiar to the larger Grateful Dead family.  Jeff Mattson and Tom Circosta team up on guitar, with Mookie Siegel on keyboards and Wendy Lanter on vocals. Klyph Black on bass and Dave Diamond on drums keep the rhythm steady.  Their debut album is due out January 29, 2008.