Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds: Live At The Village Vanguard

By editor • Oct 24, 2012
Originally published on June 20, 2014 5:10 pm

The drummer Jeff Ballard has a band called Fairgrounds. Well, he doesn't have a band as much as he has lots of bands, and knows lots of people to fill them — which might be expected of someone who has been a drummer for Chick Corea, Ray Charles and Brad Mehldau. With the Fairgrounds project, he gets to play a little fantasy baseball, mixing and matching sounds and musicians for his own ends.

When this sideman-of-choice gets to headline a week at the Village Vanguard — a half-year after his first run was foiled by Hurricane Sandy aftermath — he brought together musicians from different locations and generations. WBGO and NPR Music presented a live video webcast of the Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds in concert.

Set List

  • "1974 Blues" (E. Harris)

  • "Run To The Sun" (K. Hays)

  • "Freegrounds" (group improvisation)

  • "Lady B" (Ballard)

  • "Sweet Stuff" (H. Silver)

  • "Cryin' Blues" (E. Harris)

  • "Days Fly By [With Ruby]" (J. Parker)

Personnel

  • Jeff Ballard, drums

  • Eddie Henderson, trumpet

  • Kevin Hays, piano

  • Jeff Parker, guitar

  • Larry Grenadier, bass

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