German/Jewish poet Berthold Auerbach said “music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Live music is a source of vital nourishment that replenishes the soul, a regular part of living in New Orleans, where experiencing it fully means feeling the power and energy of a live performance.
Live Music NOLA‘s mission is to capture the spirit of live local music and share it with the world. The new company, founded earlier this year with the help of a partnership grant from the Jazz and Heritage Foundation, has already recorded well over a hundred live performances this year. They’re trying to record the full spectrum of music in New Orleans, serving both well-known and obscure artists across all genres by recording with 48 channels of audio captured using high-quality mics and other equipment, quality mixing and mastering, and even 50-50 splits with artists.
Live Music NOLA offers free streaming on their website, or a low price per show for those who enjoy the music and want to keep it (or just want to support the artist). The idea sounded so good that OffBeat is partnering with Live Music NOLA to offer an exclusive limited-edition compilation on our website that features a diverse selection of tracks from various Live Music NOLA recordings. After about a month, the compilation will be replaced by a new volume.
To hear more, check out livemusicnola.com. You can stream and listen to the compilation here, and below you’ll find the tracklist with info about the recording and performance of each track.
1. Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra – “2nd Set Opening Jam” (Hi-Ho Lounge)
This performance of the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra was recorded live on Mardi Gras Day, 2011 at the Hi-Ho Lounge. The Orchestra brings together a diverse, all-star cast of 10 local musicians to offer a fresh interpretation on classic Mardi Gras music. The lineup for the performance consists of Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, vocals; Camile Baudoin, guitar; Helen Gillet, cello; Tim Green, saxophone; CR Gruver, keyboards; Harry Hardin, violin; Sam Hotchkiss, guitar; Reggie Scanlon, bass; Kevin O’Day, drums; Rosie Rosato, percussion. The full recording of this show is under consideration for the Best Regional Roots Music Album Grammy Award.
2. Dragon Smoke – “Turnin’ It Out” (One Eyed Jacks)
Dragon Smoke is a four-piece supergroup featuring Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk, Stanton Moore and Rob Mercurio from Galactic, and Eric Lindell. This performance was recorded live at One Eyed Jacks on the Tuesday between Jazz Fest weekends this year, the 10th anniversary of the band’s first performance on the Tuesday between Fest weekends in 2001. The full recording of this show is under consideration for the Best Blues Album Grammy Award.
3. Marco Benevento Trio – “Bus Ride” (Howlin Wolf)
Composer/keyboardist Marco Benevento appears regularly in New Orleans as a part of the jazz/prog powerhouse Garage A Trois. This selection is from a breathtaking performance recorded at the Megalomaniac’s Ball at the Howlin Wolf on May 4, 2011, featuring Benevento alongside Reed Mathis (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey) on bass and John Speice (Hairy Apes BMX) on drums.
4. Dillon, Vidacovich, Singleton, Meyers – “Relapse King” (Blue Nile)
Prolific percussionist/vibraphonist/composer Mike Dillon combines the harmonic complexity and technical demands of modern jazz with a punk rock ethos and myriad rhythmic influences. Mike D performs regularly with kindred spirit James Singleton as part of the band Illuminasti, and the duo also appears together in a number of other creative projects. Here they’re joined by frequent collaborator Johnny Vidacovich and Carly Meyers, leader of the promising young funk band Yojimbo. Meyers contributes an inspired trombone solo along with impromptu backing vocals.
5. Morning 40 Federation – “Gin Instead of Whiskey” (One Eyed Jacks)
The Morning Forties are modern-day cultural ambassadors of New Orleans. Much like the city itself, their music is raw, dirty, and fun. The band is on a semi-hiatus with no plans to record a new studio album, but fans of the Morning 40s knows the only way truly experience their music is live. The raucous energy of their sound is best communicated in a true live setting, as demonstrated by this selection from a One Eyed Jacks show recorded over Mardi Gras weekend 2011.
6. J. the Savage – “12 Miles to Shreveport” (Old Point Bar)
J. the Savage, a.k.a. Jamie Bernstein, is a local Americana singer/songwriter. Here, Jamie is recorded live performing his original song “12 Miles to Shreveport” at the Old Point Bar in Algiers. Helping his cause is the impressive musicianship of the supporting band, which features both pedal steel and mandolin.
7. Washboard Chaz Blues Trio – “Oh, Oh, Oh” (Blue Nile)
The authentic sound of Washboard Chaz’s Blues Trio perfectly complements sitting on your front porch and enjoying the daylight hours. They’re especially loved in the Bywater, where every year Alex McMurray and friends throw a festival known as ChazFest in honor of Chaz. The recording features Washboard Chaz performing Delta and Chicago blues with soulful harmonica and electric guitar accompaniment at the Blue Nile.
8. Lott, Dillon, Vidacovich, Singleton – “Foxy Roxy” (Blue Nile)
Recorded at one of the semi-regular drum summits hosted by Mike Dillon at the Blue Nile, this track showcases three of New Orleans premier percussionists playing together: Dillon, Johnny Vidacovich, and Simon Lott (WATIV, Good Enough For Good Times, and many others). Joined once again by upright bass giant James Singleton, the unique styles of the three master drummers combine for an exciting interpretation of an original Singleton composition.
9. Zosimus – “Evo Devo” (Dragon’s Den)
Zosimus is a band led by local jazz guitarist and composer Cliff Hines. The music features beautiful harmonies and thoughtful compositions, the same qualities found in Cliff’s jazz quintet. In Zosimus though, these qualities are expressed with an edgier delivery that’s at times ethereal and ambient, at times heavy and raw. The band includes Rex Gregory on saxes and keys with a heavy rhythm section made up of drummer Joe Dyson (Bridge Trio) and bassist Devin Kerrigan (Bionica).
