Oteil Burbridge & Friends
May 3, 2019 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre Part 1 of 3: Set One: Water In The Desert, Dear Prudence [The Beatles], The Harder They Come [Jimmy Cliff], Piece Of My Heart [Erma Franklin / Janis Joplin]
Oteil Burbridge & Friends
May 3, 2019 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre Part 2 of 3: Set Two: Cats Down Under The Stars [Garcia/Hunter], The Weight [The Band], How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) [Marvin Gaye], High Time [Grateful Dead], Tangled Up In Blue [Bob Dylan], Sugaree / I’ll Take You There [Grateful Dead / The Staples Sisters], Tough Mama [Bob Dylan] (with John Morgan Kimock), Reubin & Cerise [Garcia/Hunter] (with John Morgan Kimock)
Oteil Burbridge & Friends
May 3, 2019 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre Part 3 of 3: Encore: Weedie Braimah djembe solo > Unconditional Love
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.
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
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:
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)
John Medeski’s Mad Skillet
4/25/16 New Orleans, LA @ Little Gem Saloon’s Ramp Room
Set One:
Briar Patch [Brother Jack McDuff cover], Dead Dog In The Street [Kirk Joseph], Blister [Will Bernard], Mojet [Mago cover], ???
John Medeski’s Mad Skillet
4/25/16 New Orleans, LA @ Little Gem Saloon’s Ramp Room
Set Two:
Inside Straight [Cannonball Adderley / Dirty Dozen Brass Band cover], 571 [Will Bernard], ???, Adele [Kirk Joseph], Baby Goats [John Medeski], Awanna [Will Bernard], Wiggly’s Way [Medeski Martin & Wood cover]
John Medeski’s Mad Skillet
April 25, 2016
New Orleans, LA @ Little Gem Saloon’s Ramp Room
Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Phil Harris – PH Balanced Recordings
SBD matrix: Schoeps CCM5’s (ORTF/Cardioid Onstage Center) + Mono SBD feed > Tascam DR-70D
SBD was mostly piano and keys, nothing else in it.
Most of the mix is from my Schoeps onstage.
Set One – 11:15pm:
01. Briar Patch [Brother Jack McDuff cover]
02. Dead Dog In The Street [Kirk Joseph]
03. Blister [Will Bernard]
04. Mojet [Mago cover]
05. ???
Set Two – 12:55pm:
01. Inside Straight [Cannonball Adderley / Dirty Dozen Brass Band cover]
02. 571 [Will Bernard]
03. ???
04. Adele [Kirk Joseph]
05. Baby Goats [John Medeski]
06. Awanna [Will Bernard]
07. Wiggly’s Way [Medeski Martin & Wood cover]
John Medeski’s Mad Skillet:
John Medeski – organ, piano Will Bernard – guitar Kirk Joseph – sousaphone Terence Higgins – drums
Notes:
This was the 3rd year for this project. In 2014 it was billed as Will Bernard’s Blue Plate Review and occurred on Saturday of first weekend with Eric Kalb on drums. In 2015 it was billed as Will Bernard’s Blue Plate Special, on Thursday night, and cemented the lineup with Terence Higgins on drums. In 2016 it was Monday night and it was clear that Medeski was the leader of this group. They are going to record an album soon and start a kickstarter campaign. They also played a few European gigs in July of 2016.
