2012 Bear Creek Orchestra At Large feat. Robert Walter, Will Bernard, George Porter Jr, Billy Martin, Jennifer Hartswick, Nigel Hall, Billy Iuso, Pee Wee Ellis, etc.

Orchestra At Large

Every year since 2007 the Bear Creek Music & Art Festival has brought together a huge family of artists from around the country who are steeped in the underground funk scene. This festival prides itself in having more sit-ins than any other festival and this is encouraged by having several Artists At Large that roam around the festival, jumping in and playing with as many different acts as they can.

In 2012, the Artists At Large included Alecia Chakour, Andrew Block, The Atlanta Funk Society Horns, Billy Iuso, Freekbass, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Michelle Sarah, Pee Wee Ellis, Robert Walter, Roosevelt Collier and Will Bernard. The Orchestra At Large set, an annual tradition begun in 2011, gives all of these artists, plus others, the chance to really come together and play in unique formats. For 2012, the Orchestra At Large set took place at 12:30pm on Sunday morning at the Big IV Amphitheatre. While most festival-goer’s were not quite up and out of their tents yet, I was able to capture most of the set with 2 video cameras for your viewing pleasure.

Nigel Hall & George Porter Jr

It was truly a pleasure to see the once in a lifetime rhythm section of George Porter Jr & Billy Martin. Other highlights included Jennifer Hartswick belting out Led Zeppelin‘s Whole Lotta Love over a psychedelic haze of guitar fuzz, Michelle Sarah showing her vocal chops on a cover of Bill Withers‘ hit When I’m Kissing My Love, as well as the interplay, respect, and love between George Porter Jr & Nigel Hall during their cover of Billy Preston‘s Will It Go Round In Circles. ENJOY THE ENTIRE SET BELOW IN 6 PARTS:

PART 1:
Song 01. Play It Back [Robert Walter] (Robert Walter, Billy Martin, George Porter Jr, Will Bernard, Billy Iuso, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)
Song 02. Zig Zag [Pee Wee Ellis] (Robert Walter, Billy Martin, George Porter Jr, Will Bernard, Billy Iuso, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)

PART 2:
Song 03. Whole Lotta Love [Led Zeppelin] (Jennifer Hartswick, Freekbass, Robert Walter, Billy Martin, Will Bernard, Billy Iuso, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)

PART 3:
Song 04. Love Having You Around [Stevie Wonder] (Nigel Hall, Alecia Chakour, Freekbass, Nikki Glaspie, Robert Walter, Will Bernard, Billy Iuso, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)
Song 05. Will It Go Round In Circles [Billy Preston] (Nigel Hall, Roosevelt Collier, George Porter Jr, Nikki Glaspie, Will Bernard, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)

PART 4:
Song 06. Trippin Over Dragons [Billy Iuso] (Billy Iuso, Freekbass, Nikki Glaspie, Robert Walter, Will Bernard, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)

PART 5:
Song 07. When I’m Kissing My Love [Bill Withers] (Michelle Sarah, Roosevelt Collier, George Porter Jr, Derrick Freeman, Wil Blades, Will Bernard, Andrew Block, Pee Wee Ellis, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman & The Atlanta Funk Society Horns)

PART 6: (shot by CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS)
Song 08. He Bite Me (The Dragon) [The Meters] (George Porter Jr, Roosevelt Collier, Terrence Houston, Robert Walter, Billy Iuso, Will Bernard, Skerik & Pee Wee Ellis)

George Porter Jr & Billy Martin

Medeski Martin & Wood (& Scofield) – two nights at Bear Creek Music Festival (VIDEOS)

I’m just going to keep unleashing my videos from the 2011 Bear Creek Music Festival in hopes that I can get them all released before I head down to New Orleans for Jazz Festival and come back with 10+ more hours of footage.

Medeski Martin & Wood
Friday, November 11, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
We Are Rolling > Pappy Check > Just Like I Pictured It,
Where’s the Music (with Pee Wee Ellis), Think

Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 1 of 2: A Go Go, Down The Tubes (aka Improv), Hanuman, Little Walter Rides Again

Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 2 of 2: Miles Behind, In Case The World Changes Its Mind (with Roosevelt Collier),
Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing (with Johnny Vidacovich), Hottentot

AUDIO (on MMW): Schoeps mk22/cmc6 > Audio Magic Excalibur Cables > Sound Devices 788 by Steve Bazley
AUDIO (on MSMW): Neumann TLM-170R (cardiod) > Grace Lunatec V-3 (Analog out) > Sound Device 722 by TaperSteve
VIDEO 1: Canon Vixia HF21 by RLBayers
VIDEO 2 (on MSMW): Zoom Q3 by Adam Firtel of CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS

The Funky Meters still bring it: Bear Creek Music Festival 2011 VIDEOS: FULL SET


I don’t have much time to write about this performance, but I’ll just put it out there as proof that The Funky Meters are still a band in full swing and that Art “Poppa Funk” Neville can still play like the 75 year old legend that he is.

This was one of the most enjoyable sets of the weekend for me. Maybe it was the flask of rum in my pocket, or maybe it was just the joy exuding from both the players and the crowd. I suspect it was a combination of both along with the magical atmosphere of the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

There are some nice sit-ins on this set by Pee Wee Ellis, Billy Iuso, Nikki Glaspie, Ivan Neville and Ian Neville.

The Funky Meters
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 1 of 2: Jam > Funkify Your Life > Look-Ka Py Py > Soul Island > Hang Em High

The Funky Meters
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Live Oak, FL @ Bear Creek Music Festival
Part 2 of 2: (Doodle Oop) The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather (with Pee Wee Ellis) > Keep On Marching (with Pee Wee Ellis) > Art chastises George > Love Slip Up On Ya (with Billy Iuso) > Fire On The Bayou (with Billy Iuso & Nikki Glaspie)

The Funky Meters:
Art “Poppa Funk” Neville: keys, vocals
George Porter Jr: keys, vocals
Brian Stoltz: keys, vocals
Russell Batiste Jr: drums, vocals

AUDIO: Schoeps mk22/cmc6 } Sound Devices 788 by Steve Bazley
VIDEO 1: Canon Vixia HF21 by RLBayers
VIDEO 2: Zoom Q3 by Adam Firtel of CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS

And here’s the end of the show, shot by just CHeeSeHeaDPRoDuCTioNS:
Cissy Strut > People Say (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville) > Welcome To New Orleans (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville) > Ain’t No Use (w/ Ivan Neville & Ian Neville)


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