There's a different sound and feel here than in any other combo of Phil and Friends or the Allmans
or Derek or Warren's other efforts. Some tentative-sounding playing, (Derek's youth and probable unfamiliarity with the whole catalogue?) but lots of nice ensemble work and beautiful solos too. This tour was, for me, a neat transitional experience in the continuing evolution of these players. I think it was the first road playing together for Warren and Derek, and in 4 months they were together in The Allmans at The Beacon.
Btw, Jorma played with them as well at Derek's last show with P+F, on 11/15/99, .

[Edited on 10/19/2015 by HillbillyHank]

[Edited on 10/19/2015 by HillbillyHank]

"How come nobody is dancing ???" Some woman on one of my audience recordings of one of these shows with Derek.

I do admit to being a big Derek fan, so that is my bias. I feel, and I have all the Phil shows w/Derek, these are some very fine shows. I do not think Derek was bashful ... for lack of a better term. I was at the Penn State show, they blew me away.

saw them open for Dylan at the crappy sounding meadowlands.

i came away feeling that as much as i was in love with Derek's playing Derek wasn't a good fit for GD music at that time-has he played with Phil or Bobby since? Not sure he has.i never heard him or read in interviews of Derek ever referencing the Dead or Jerry-wonder if it's not his thing or perhaps he digs it-anyone know?

I only listened to a couple of these so far, but Derek seemed more comfortable with Footprints than the GD material. That may have changed by the end of the run. I have a few more lined up.

I don't think Derek has toured with either Phil or Bobby since. Imo, Derek seems to be more into concentrating on one project and developing it, unlike Warren who likes to mix it up all the time. There is no "better' just a personal preference in the way they each seem to like to work (my perception, anyway)

saw them open for Dylan at the crappy sounding meadowlands.

i came away feeling that as much as i was in love with Derek's playing Derek wasn't a good fit for GD music at that time-has he played with Phil or Bobby since? Not sure he has.i never heard him or read in interviews of Derek ever referencing the Dead or Jerry-wonder if it's not his thing or perhaps he digs it-anyone know?

Well for this specific time period being discussed here this below will answer some of your question.

Also Bob has sat in with TTB several times recently and Derek sat in with the Dead in 2004 at the Gorge the day the Allmans shared the bill and of course Warren played in both lineups that day.

RM: I first saw you with Phil Lesh in 1999.

DT: I didn't know any of that music until those days when I started playing with him. I got a random call from him on my cell phone, we were out on the road. Phil Lesh gave me a call. Our soundman was a Deadhead and I was like, "Is Phil Lesh, is he a bass player?" and he was like "oh yeah he's great." So I called him back and he asked me to come out and fill in for the guitar player that split (Steve Kimock) and I was like, "I'd love to but I don't know any of your music. I've never listened to any of the records," and he was like you know, "perfect, come on out." And every day they'd hand me a set list in the morning with three or four CDs and all the tunes burned on 'em and I'd just spend all day listening to these Garcia parts, and it was great experience to have to learn that stuff, be on the spot every night, tunes you learned that morning. It was a great experience, trial by fire.

RM: You weren't playing Garcia licks on that tour.

DT: I'd never heard 'em. If I would have (played them) it would have been by accident. I was just hanging out with Jimmy Herring last week, and he took that role when I left the band. The record that Phil heard that made him call me was the record that Jimmy Herring played on -- our record, the Derek Trucks Band, and he was asking about guitar players and I was like "Jimmy's the guy." So I played him a track on our record that had Jimmy and he was like "Oh yeah, you think he can do the gig?" and I was like "Oh yeah, he's got it covered." Jimmy was great in that role for a while.

The DTB opened for some P&F shows in the summer of 2001. Derek would sit in on 2 or 3 songs during Phil's set.

I read (sorry, I forget where and I can't find the article now) that after Derek toured in Phil's band in 1999, he got his paycheck in the mail and called Phil Lesh Management company. I'm paraphrasing, but from what I read, the conversation went something like this:

DT: I just got my paycheck in the mail. Why is it so big ?
PLM: Well we agreed to pay you X and you played 12 shows, so the pay is 12X.
DT: Oh... I thought I was being paid X for the entire tour I participated in.....
PLM: No. You were paid X per show.

The DTB opened for some P&F shows in the summer of 2001. Derek would sit in on 2 or 3 songs during Phil's set.

I read (sorry, I forget where and I can't find the article now) that after Derek toured in Phil's band in 1999, he got his paycheck in the mail and called Phil Lesh Management company. I'm paraphrasing, but from what I read, the conversation went something like this:

DT: I just got my paycheck in the mail. Why is it so big ?
PLM: Well we agreed to pay you X and you played 12 shows, so the pay is 12X.
DT: Oh... I thought I was being paid X for the entire tour I participated in.....
PLM: No. You were paid X per show.

True story, and he used the cash to build Swamp Raga Studios in his backyard! Thanks Uncle Phil!!

ps- that is a funny ass comment on the aud.rec - they're all standing there mouth agape, staring in psychedelic wonderment at Derek - that's why they ain't dancin'

I think this was the tour where Steve Kimmock quit the first week over pay or a dispute with Phil's wife/manager. I think Phil got Warren and Derek and even Jorma to help out.

I was at the meadowlands also. I was down low so the bad sound wasn't to much of an issue. Phil's set was pretty good and I was glad to see Derek up there. They were still in the constant rotation of players at this point so it was very noodly but good.

Dylan was so good in 99. I think he came out and did Alabama Getaway with Phil. He was still heavily touring Time Out of Mind and coming out with all the vintage gear and western suits. Probably the best Dylan show I've seen. I just really love that record. Over all a good night of music and it probably set the tone for the Warren/Jimmy era that would start a year later or so with Phil

Dylan was very good on the '99 tour. If anyone remembers, Bob has a strict "no taping" policy. When I attended the Penn St show there were signs outside, in bold print, regarding the no taping policy. I saw some of the most ingenious methods of smuggling in recording gear for that show.
So glad tapers did their level best to archive those '99 shows.

Regarding the comment on why people aren't dancing. One of the shows I have, maybe PSU, someone clearly states "...absolutely no F'n around tonight". Funny, because that is exactly how I felt.

^^^
Yes Dylan was excellent then.

I saw Phil and Friends with Derek and Warren, and Dylan at Temple university here in Philadelphia.

https://archive.org/details/1999-11-09.paf.aud.abbddull.1502.sbeok.flacf