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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