Bjorkestra at Bowery Ballroom
January 20, 2006

Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra headlined the Blender Theatre last Saturday with a ninety minute set of jazz excellence. In anticipation of the release of their first CD (to be entitled Enjoy and due for release in January), Bjorkestra went on a brief tour in the Northeast. The Blender show featured the addition of a track from Bjork’s Volta album in the setlist.

The sound quality in the venue was outstanding, and my equipment and positioning were ideal. This recording accurately reflects the excellent venue sound, but perhaps the horn section was mixed too low. Thanks again to Travis for permission to record.

This is the third time I have recorded Bjorkestra. Excellent recordings of the February (here) and the June (here) performances are still available for download in the archives of nyctaper.

Direct download of the complete show in FLAC is [HERE].

Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra
2007-09-22
Blender Theatre at Gramercy
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from 1st Row of Seating Area
Directly Behind Soundboard

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > flac

Many thanks to Travis for permission to record.

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:38:09]
01 Overture
02 Hyperballad
03 Alarm Call
04 Enjoy
05 Jòga
06 Army of Me
07 Pneumonia
08 Pluto
09 Show Me Forgiveness
10 Hunter
11 Who Is It
12 Cocoon
13 Human Behavior

Please support this unique and compelling interpretation of the music of Bjork and visit the Bjorkestra website.

If Bjork’s May performances in New York–her initial return to touring after nearly four years off–were perhaps somewhat timid and apprehensive, tonight’s Madison Square Garden performance was powerful, aggressive, and vocally outstanding. Bjork has regained all of her vocal chops after four months on the road and she seems to be relaxed, in charge, and having fun. Additionally, the band was tight and fluid, and the setlist has added a several new numbers.

My recording was made from the 5th row of the seating section, directly in line with the right PA stacks. As a result, the recording is clear, and rich in bass presence. I utilized the DPA uni-directional microphones so that much of the chatter behind and to my left is hardly noticeable. This is the same recording rig and similar position to the White Stripes MSG recording from July.

Download the complete concert in FLAC [HERE].

Bjork
2007-09-24
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board
Section 5, Row E

DPA 4021’s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM) > flac

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper
2007-09-25

Setlist:
[total time 1:27:22]
01 Brennið Þið Vitar
02 Earth Intruders
03 Hunter
04 Pagan Poetry
05 I See Who You Are*
06 Unravel
07 The Pleasure is All Mine
08 Dull Flame of Desire**
09 Jóga
10 Desired Constellation
11 Army of Me
12 Innocence
13 I Miss You
14 Cover Me
15 Wanderlust
16 Hyperballad
17 Pluto
Encores:
18 [encore break]
19 [band introductions]
20 Oceania
21 Declare Independence

*With Min Xiao-Fen
**With Antony Hegarty

As with all artists featured on this site, if you download this recording, please support Björk and visit her website.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is a prog-fusion jazz trio consisting of Brian Haas (keyboards), Reed Mathis (bass), and newly-added (2007) drummer Joshua Raymer. Their most obvious influence is Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis, and their most obvious comparison is Medeski Martin and Wood. Mathis has built a solid reputation, as he’s played recently in different bands with Steve Kimock, Bobby Previte, and Mark Benevento.

Their opening set last night at the Blender was nearly 90 minutes of profoundly excellent jazz improv. Haas provided the backbone as he performed primarily on a series electric keyboards and effects, and Raymer kept up with his new bandmates providing a solid rhythm. The lead bass and various effects utilized by Mathis were quite impressive during his several solos.

JFJO permit live recording, and as a result I was able to use my best equipment from a center spot directly above the soundboard in the first row of seats. After the show I chatted briefly with Brian Haas who was not only modest about the outstanding set that the trio had just performed, but also thanked me for recording the set.

Enjoy this outstanding recording of new jazz improvisation at its finest.

The Bjorkestra set was also recorded and will be posted in the next couple of days.

This recording is now available to download in FLAC and MP3 at Archive.org [HERE].

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
2007-09-22
Blender Theatre at Gramercy
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from 1st Row of Seating Area
Directly Behind Soundboard

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > flac

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper
2007-09-23

Setlist
[total time 1:21:25]
01 Improvisation
02 Santiago
03 Song of the Vipers, The Maestro
04 Twin Star
05 Oklahoma Stomp
06 Hover
07 Happiness is a Warm Gun
08 Dove’s Army
09 Old Love, New Love

As with all artists featured at this site, if you download this recording PLEASE SUPPORT Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey by visiting their web site.

Old 97’s were the second act in Monday’s opening night of Music Downtown. Old 97’s have always been pretty loose live, and Monday was no exception–the band is more about fun and entertainment than simply mimicking the albums. The setlist contains a nice retrospective of their material, including four songs from the brilliant 1999 release Fight Songs

This recording was made from the same location with the same equipment as the Hold Steady recording posted below. The wind was stronger during this set, so that there are moments when wind noise is audible, but it does not retract from listening enjoyment.

The direct download location of the complete show in FLAC is [HERE].

Old 97’s
2007-09-17
Music Downtown Concert Series
7 World Trade Center Plaza
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board Center
Approximately 50 feet from the PA

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > flac

Many thanks to Michael Dorf for permission to record.

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper
2007-09-20

Setlist:
[Total Time 47:51]
01 [introduction]
02 Won’t Be Home
03 Barrier Reef
04 Lonely Holiday
05 Crash on the Barrel Head
06 Rollerskate Skinny
07 Doreen
08 Busted Afternoon
09 Smokers
10 Murder (Or a Heart Attack)
11 Big Brown Eyes
12 The New Kid
13 Timebomb

As with all artists featured at this site, PLEASE SUPPORT Old 97’s by visiting their web site.