Category: New Orleans Jazz Festival

Medeski Martin & Wood’s End of the World Party at New Orleans Jazz Fest 2004

Still on the Medeski Martin & Wood tip. If you’ve ever seen this Russian polka trio perform live then you’ve probably already been hooked, not only by their musical virtuosity but by their incessant grooves.




Today I present a full 2 hour video of MMW throwing it down at a 2004 late night show during New Orleans Jazz Fest. At the time, the band was fresh off of a west coast run of nine shows at small venues in which every show was complete improvisation. [I highly highly recommend dug’s five disc compilation: April Grooves 2004.]

After a few nights off MMW hit NOLA like a storm, busting out mainly new tunes from their End Of The World Party (Just In Case) album that they would release later that year. The first half of the show features the Sex Mob horns, Steven Bernstein on trumpet & Briggan Kraus on saxophone, and there is also a spacey improv section with Grant Calvin Weston on percussion and Briggan Kraus blowing some weird sounds on the sax. The encore also features the Sex Mob horns on one of John Medeski‘s classic tunes, Wiggly’s Way.

The full video is on youtube in 2 parts and the DVD version is available to download here.

Part 1/2:
Anonymous Skulls > Improv > Mami Gato > Down On Me
Sasa > Improv > Creole Love Call (w/ Snake Anthony bassline)

Part 2/2:
Drum Solo > Curtis > Bass Solo > Queen Bee
New Planet > Improv (w/ G. Calvin Weston & Briggan Kraus)
End Of The World Party
Encore: Whiney Bitches > Wiggly’s Way

Interesting tidbit: at the same time this show was occurring, David Bowie (with The Polyphonic Spree as his opening act) was playing literally across Canal Street at the Saenger Theater. It was a tough choice, but with two of my absolute favorite bands playing together, I just couldn’t miss this MMW / Ween co-headliner.

VIDEOS: Dumpstaphunk Jazz Fest 2011 Tour de NOLA

“Sleep is NOT overrated!” I once heard Ivan Neville exclaim between songs at a late night Maple Leaf gig. He should know, as one of the hardest working musicians in New Orleans during Jazz Fest week. (It’s usually a competition between him, George Porter Jr. & Stanton Moore as to who does the most gigs in that 10 day period.) For Jazz Fest 2011, Ivan did at least 9 gigs (if not more) during the second weekend, 3 of which were with Dumpstaphunk.

Gasman Chronicles > Do Ya > Deeper:

On Thursday, May 5th, Dumpstaphunk opened for Soulive & Lettuce at the Royal Family Ball at the Contemporary Arts Center. My pal Theo showed up and set up his audio recording equipment dead center, about 20 feet from the front rail (much closer than FOB). I clamped my video camera to the side of his mic stand, zoomed it in tight and just let it roll for the entire set. Here, I present 45 minutes of highlights from their 70 minute set. Note the rare cover of The Isley Brothers’ “Fight The Power” as the set closer.

Lt. Dan, Put It In The Dumpsta, Everybody Want Sum, Fight The Power:

The day before, on Wednesday, May 4th, Dumpstaphunk played an afternoon in-store performance at the Louisiana Music Factory record store on Decatur Street. This is an interesting set because Ivan is playing Joe Krown’s organ and without clavinet. Here is the full 35 minute set:

01. Everybody Want Sum – Do Ya:

02. Oughta Know Better:

03. Gasman Chronicles – Deeper (part 1/2):

04. Deeper (part 2/2):

On Sunday, May 9th, Dumpstaphunk closed down the week’s festivities late night at Tipitina’s for the 5th year in a row. The highlight for me was the unexpected James Brown cover, The Payback, sung by Nick Daniels. I didn’t shoot this video (I was too enthralled in the front row), but I sure am glad that my friend Chris Rogers was holding up his flash video recorder. Now I can relive one of my favorite moments from Jazz Fest 2011, as drummer Raymond Weber gives us those “hits” we so desperately need.

The Payback (James Brown cover):

BTW, this was a crosspost with Live Music Blog: NOLA. Definitely check them out to keep up to date with the New Orleans music scene!

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – Cinco De Mayo Celebration 2011 Late Night at Tipitina’s

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS!

Talk about a party! Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe had Tipitina’s rocking from 2am to 5:30am on a Thursday night / Friday morning. We were in New Orleans after all, it was 2nd weekend of Jazz Fest and it was Cinco De Mayo! Well, it wasn’t actually Cinco De Mayo anymore as it was Friday morning by the time they started, but try telling that to the Professor Longhair bust in the Tipitina’s foyer: he was a sporting a huge sombrero all night!

This show had an insane amount of guests: Terence Higgins on a 2nd drum kit for the entire show, Ivan Neville, Eric McFadden, Nigel Hall, Tony Hall, Marco Benevento, Steve Molitz, Mike Dillon, Nikki Glaspie, The Shady Horns, Maurice Brown, Mark Mullins, etc… The most surprising guest was American Idol Taylor Hicks who demonstrated his harmonica skills on a wacky (at least it seemed wacky to me) cover of Wall of Voodoo’s “Mexican Radio”!

The full 3 hour audio recording is available to stream or download at Live Music Archive or to download via torrent at etree.

A big thanks goes out to Cosmicsoul420 for recording this audio and allowing me to use it on these videos.

This first video is a slamming cover of a Cold War Kids song that really shows the grittier side of Karl D’s voice. I can’t get this one out of my head, especially the a capella ending. Just feel that intro riff Chris Stillwell lays down on bass.

The second video is a Los Lobos cover that features Ivan Neville on organ & Eric McFadden ripping an acoustic-electric guitar like I’ve never seen.

This third video also features Ivan Neville & Eric McFadden, but don’t forget that Terence Higgins is guesting the whole show on that 2nd drum kit. This tune, Satisfied, really allows the dual drummers to show off a little with a drum breakdown near the end. We also find Karl D playing “more cowbell,” as well as a lengthy flute solo in the middle.

The fourth and final video features 8 horn players, Nikki Glaspie (Beyonce’s drummer) on one of the drum kits and Steve Molitz from Particle on organ. The horn players, in order of their solos are: Chris Littlefield on trumpet, Rashawn Ross on trumpet, Sam Kinninger on alto sax, Maurice Brown on trumpet & Ryan Zoidis on tenor sax. The video cuts here because my hand was too tired to record any longer, but the tune ended with an organ solo by Steve Molitz, a big horn blowout by everyone and a short Karl Denson sax solo. Two other horn players are present but don’t solo: Mark Mullins on trombone & Anthony Reed on sax. Of all of those horns, Maurice Brown’s solo really stands out for me.



Thanks goes out to Marc Millman Photography for the use of his images.
His site has some great image galleries, so check it out.

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