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 (& 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