by Ned Raggett As the title makes perfectly clear, this limited-edition live disc, taken from two concerts performed in January and February 1999 in New York, indeed functions as a fundraising effort for Gira's longtime partner Jarboe, to raise money to treat a medical condition she picked up while visiting Israel in the previous year. Helped by a wide range of musical collaborators old and new, including percussionist Larry Mullins, bassist Bill Bronson, and guitarist Kid Congo Powers, Gira's affecting performances generally steer away from the pounding extremes usual in his music and instead, veer into a gentler, song-oriented selection from his various projects, solo and otherwise. Not to say that he can't pump things up as needed; suddenly halfway through the opening "Low Life Form," the volume gets notably louder. However, softer, dreamy reflection and a low-key intensity is the focus; knowing how many of his songs are specifically written for or about Jarboe, the deep emotion of the performance becomes quite understandable. Numerous unreleased and/or newer numbers make an appearance as well, adding to the disc's appeal to fans. The recording itself isn't perfect, having been taken from audience microphones (up-front chatter with the music in the background happens more than once), yet everything generally comes through in reasonable fidelity. Perhaps more troubling for a casual listener is that the entire performance is mastered as one track. However, these are minor technical quibbles in context; the skeletal pulse and twang of songs like "My Dead Son" and the fun country lope of "Untitled Love Song" more than overcome such details. Ending on an excellent note with a version of "Forever Yours" from the first Angels of Light album, Benefit CD works as both a way to raise money and as an artistic labor of love.