Johnny Vidacovich & John Medeski – 2018 – Three Nights of Jazz in New Orleans

John Medeski, Johnny Vidacovich, Chris Wood, Skerik, Maple Leaf

The New Orleans Jazz Festival is a 10 day marathon that fills the city with amazing musicians and music for 2 full weekends (and the daze between). I’ve found that there is a much more palpable energy on the first weekend, when you can feel the city coming alive and people aren’t yet worn down, hitting the wall, or already crashed and burned. Maybe you can’t separate the pros from the amateurs yet, but everyone is ready for magic to happen.

This year’s pleasure was hearing Johnny Vidacovich & John Medeski team up for 3 shows, on First Friday and then on Monday and Tuesday. Vidacovich’s playing on all 3 was fresh and invigorated, which you’re not guaranteed to get from him on second weekend gigs, whether he has his pre-show espresso or not.

These are once in a lifetime performances by musicians that are absolute masters of jazz, groove and intention in their playing. Much of it is improvisational, but at peak execution. It is extremely gratifying to capture these musical moments for posterity and help spread them far and wide, hopefully bringing attention and wider appreciation to this alluring city and it’s spectacular musical gumbo.

– RandyB (October 13, 2018)

I also have to shout out the great audio tapers that really make these videos stand out with excellent and professional audio recordings. Jason “Picklemic” Loomis and Phil Harris (aka PH Balanced Recordings)!

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Medeski, Vidacovich & Wood with Skerik
Friday, April 27th, 2018
New Orleans, LA @ Maple Leaf
SET ONE:
Hip Chops [Rahsaan Roland Kirk], Sham Time [Eddie Harris], Coffee [Vidacovich] > Improv > Improv > Improv (inc. Third Stone From The Sun [Jimi Hendrix] & A Love Supreme [John Coltrane]), Blues Improv Outro

Medeski, Vidacovich & Wood with Skerik
April 27th, 2018
New Orleans, LA @ Maple Leaf
SET TWO:
Buster Rides Again [Bud Powell] (inc. Caravan [Duke Ellington]) > Wiggly’s Way [Medeski] > Improv > Improv

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Jphnny Vidacovich, John Medeski, Chris Wood at dba New Orleans

Medeski, Vidacovich & Wood
Monday, April 30th, 2018
New Orleans, LA @ d.b.a.
Set TWO:
Chinoiserie [Duke Ellington], Bemsha Swing / Lively Up Yourself [Thelonious Monk / Bob Marley], Tootie Ma (Is A Big Fine Thing) [Danny Barker], You Haven’t Don’t Nothin’ [Stevie Wonder], Nostalgia In Times Square / Angel Race (I’ll Wait For You) [Charles Mingus / Sun Ra]

Unfortunately I didn’t arrive in time to capture video of the first set, as it was just too crowded. I did get in to see most of it though, and Picklemic has audio of both sets right here:

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John Vidacovich, John Medeski & Will Bernard
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
New Orleans, LA @ Cafe Istanbul

Beatrice [Sam Rivers] > Y Todavia La Quiero [Joe Henderson], Mojet [Medeski], Improv > ?Improv? > Improv > Tubby [James Booker], Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise [Sigmund Romberg], Is It Nature’s Rock N’ Roll? [Vidacovich] > Coffee [Vidacovich] (coda)

Johnny Vidacovich, John Medeski, Will Bernard at Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans

AUDIO: Schoeps CCM5’s } Tascam DR-70D (onstage center 4′ high in ORTF/Cardioid Mode) by Phil Harris (aka PH Balanced Recordings)

Medeski, Martin & Wood – Jamaica 2016

Medeski, Martin & Wood began 2016 (their 25th year playing together!) with a handful of shows in Jamaica opening for moe. and Little Feat. Fortunately for us, Little Feat archivist Chris Cafiero was on hand filming the first three nights (of the four), and he even snagged soundboard audio patches each night. Another taper, Steve Wilner also filmed with cameras at both stage right and stage left, as well as front of house. These tapers graciously shared the raw files with me and now we can all enjoy all three nights in multi-camera glory. If you’re an MMW fan, get ready for 3 hours of couch tour! Did I mention that Chris is playing only his Fender Jazz bass for the whole run? Or that they bust out tons of old favorites and get into a large amount of tasty groove-based improvisation? I shouldn’t have to say anything else. But I will say cheers to #MMW25! We’re off to a great start and let’s hope they book a lot more gigs, including something in New Orleans for Jazz Fest!

Medeski Martin & Wood 1/12/16 Jamaica

Medeski Martin & Wood 1/11/16 Runaway Bay, Jamaica @ Jewel Paradise Cove Resort – Tropical Throe.down 2016:
Sorrow [David Bowie / The McCoys cover] > Lonely Avenue [Ray Charles cover] > Think > Improv > Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus, Gonzo [James Booker cover]

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Medeski Martin & Wood 1/12/16 Jamaica

Medeski Martin & Wood 1/12/16 Runaway Bay, Jamaica @ Jewel Paradise Cove Resort – Tropical Throe.down 2016:
Improv > Coconut Boogaloo > Henduck > Improv > Shackman

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Medeski Martin & Wood 1/13/16 Jamaica

Medeski Martin & Wood 1/13/16 Runaway Bay, Jamaica @ Jewel Paradise Cove Resort – Tropical Throe.down 2016:
Chinoiserie [Duke Ellington cover], Just Like I Pictured It, Night Marchers > Improv > Wiggly’s Way, Brigas Nunca Mais [Antonio Carlos Jobim / Elis Regina cover], Heaven On Earth [Larry Young cover]

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You can find the audio downloads for all 3 nights over at bt.etree.org.
Night 1
Night 2
Night 3

Also, for a limited time, I have the 8 gig edited video files (with uncompressed LPCM audio) from each night available for download.
Night 1
Night 2
Night 3

VIDEOS: Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood 12/13/14 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood -  Vic Theatre

UPDATED with the complete show with 2 angles. Thanks to madpicken.

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood 12/13/14 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
Set One: Sham Time, Juicy Lucy, Chank > Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing, Helium:

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood 12/13/14 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
Set Two: North London > Louis The Shoplifter, Little Walter Rides Again, Sunshine of Your Love [Cream cover] > I Know You, Light My Fire [The Doors cover], Encore: The Times They Are A Changin’ [Bob Dylan cover]:

Chris Wood, Billy Martin & John Scofield - Chicago at the Vic Theatre

Here are the original videos with just my footage (not the complete show):

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood 12/13/14 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
from set Set One: Sham Time, Juicy Lucy (last 2 minutes), Chank > Tootie Ma (first 3 minutes), Helium:

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood 12/13/14 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
from set Set Two: North London > Louis The Shoplifter, Sunshine of Your Love [Cream cover]:

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