2019/10/12 Live From Here with Chris Thile and guests Trey Anastasio, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Sara Jarosz, Edward Norton, Tom Papa, Dulce Sinead
As Live From Here continues its fall run from their new home at The Town Hall in New York City, fans were treated to another glorious episode (with slightly more than the usual phanfare) due to one particular name on the guest list. Being a live air show with a strictly dicatated schedule, 6:00:00 sharp brought on the opening notes of “Fugue State,” a Vulfpeck tune in its second year as the LFH theme song. After a mulit-faceted and highly layered “C Q,” this week’s song of the week (yes, Chris Thile writes a song every week!), which sounded somewhat like a venue appropriate mini Broadway musical, Thile announced this week’s first guest.
Trey Anastasio entered to thunderous applause as there were many Phish fans in attendance who probably saw their first and only episode of LFH last night. “Theme From the Bottom” was Trey’s first offering, rearranged to play alongside the house band of Chris Thile (mandolin), Mike Elizondo (musical director/bassist), Chris “Critter” Eldridge (guitar), Kush Abadey (drums), Brett Williams (keys), Brittany Haas (fiddle) and guest Sarah Jarosz (vocals, banjo, mandolin, guitar). “If I Could” was Trey’s next choice, and if you didn’t know better you might think it was a duet written specifically for he and Sarah Jarosz. Trey really opened up a beautifully composed solo for this one, his tone so clean as he played out of a very stripped down set up and not his usual Phish rig.
Tom Papa left the audience in stitches with his Out in America segment, followed by a jazzy house band number and then Sarah Jarosz covering Joanna Newsom’s “Book of Right-On.” Edward Norton was next up, explaining how he got hooked up with Thom Yorke and guest Wynton Marsalis for music for his new movie premiering November 1, Motherless Brooklyn, a 1999 book by Jonanthan Lethem from which he read like the world class actor that he is.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Winton Marsalis quietly assembled on stage during Ed Norton’s segment and wowed the crowd with two numbers, the second of which saw them joined by Chris Thile. Fifteen members strong with twelve horns, an upright bass, baby grand piano and drums, Winton immediately distinguished himself from the rest of the similarly clad ensemble, treating the room full of Phish phans to a heavy dose of culture from one of New York’s finest professional jazz outfits.
The birthday segment was next, where Thile recognizes musician’s birthdays and plays their songs. Sarah Jarosz shined bright again and showed off her range during a cover of Natalie Maines “Cowboy Take Me Away,” followed by Fela Kuti’s resounding protest song “Zombie” and Sweeney Todd’s “A Little Priest,” a nod to Miss Lovett and Angela Lansbury’s birthday. One more birthday for this segment and another opportunity to introduce Trey Anastasio, who quipped, “Everyone who’s ever strapped on a guitar owes a little to Chuck Berry,” before covering “Back in the USA,” again sounding so clean on his minimalist rig.
Before Trey’s next selection, Thile asked him just how he chooses only four songs from the mighty catalog at his disposal, “You know, I play in a band that goes on stage without a setlist so a lot of is just feel and the vibe from…you people {pointing to the audience}. This is just a song I like a lot right now,” as he launched into a chilling “A Life Beyond The Dream,” which was a perfect song choice for the setting. Good feel, Trey!
Dulce Sloan was next with an outstanding set of stand up comedy as she opened with, “I can’t believe I’m gonna do stand up after the chillest song I’ve ever heard,” and, “did you notice the only black people here are me and the drummer?” A trio of fiddle songs featuring Britanny Haas was next before Tom Papa had a belly-laughing, eyes-tearing reading about parenting. “I used to listen to Phish,” he quipped, “now I do it quietly…in the bathroom.”
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra played another mind-boggling number (best music city in the world, anyone?), again highlighted by Mr. Marsalis though his company of professional musicians was almost equally impressive, and was soon joined by phan favorite Trey Anastasio, now set up stage left in front of the orchestra, for what would be the On-Air finale of “Blaze On.” Watching these musicians watch and marvel at each other, Thile and Trey at Winton, Winton at Trey, along with Thile’s endearing and wild gesticulations, just drove home the fact that the Live From Here faithful (and a roomful of LFH noobs) were treated to something special last night. A final off-air performance with the audience on their feet sent everyone home reeling.
So grateful that New York City is the new home of LFH, along with Trey, Winton, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra…just another ho-hum night in New York of world class music and collaborations.
Editorial Addendum:
I was amazed, for I think the 4th time live, how incredible this show is start to finish. Each time, I am literally blown away by each member of the “house band.” Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Sarah Jarosz, a semi-regular who last night was billed as a guest. The object of my affection last night was Mike Elizondo – so versatile on both the electric (5 string am I right?) and standup bass and musical director, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of his deep well of talent. Then there are the musicians who I start to notice from the rest of my escapades in and around NYC like Kush Abadey of 55 Bar fame and still others, like Brett Williams whom I’d never seen nor heard of before but responded like a boss when put on the spot by Thile pre-show to kill the last minute before air time with :40 of improvisation.
I was also taken with how I fall into the trap of getting really excited for the guests and then realizing (every time) that they are just a small part of an incredibly overwhelming product. Trey was incredible last night, but so was The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I was excited for Winton, and though he quickly distinguished himself from the rest of his ensemble, these were his peers and colleagues, not his underlings. Tom Papa, a regular relegated to guest status, crushed his comic readings and had me in stitches, like tears and belly laughs, as did Dulce Sloan – good for her! Sarah Jarosz has the most amazing range. Seriously, what can’t she do…banjo…check! Mandolin…check! Vocal range…check! The list goes on. And Chris Thile, a true virtuoso!
But just as I was thinking about how the show has so many parts that all work and how the guests sometimes do little more than sell tickets, enter Trey with JLCO and Winton for Blaze On, which kind of stole the show. Not to minimize anything that came before but just, WOW!. His “duet” with Sarah on If I Could was ethereal and I loved the GOtF offering of A Life Beyond The Dream. He delivered big time but then everyone on the bill did. And while I was impressed with Ed Norton’s reading, his dress and commentary seemed unthought-out and one-dimensional {read: promotional}. I also couldn’t help but notice a couple people in the crowd who couldn’t sit still if Trey wasn’t on the stage and I was silently (not anymore now that I put it in writing) wondering if they, at a minimum, absorbed a good bit of culture by osmosis.
Additionally, I spent a bit of time thinking about how well Trey’s songs stood up to composition and how much, if any, of their playing was improvised. I mean, I know everyone on the stage can listen and react but just wondering about the mix of improv vs arrangement.
I wish I could go every week. I love that front row loge view, slightly elevated about ten rows back, with perfect sound to boot. An ethereal evening with my lady where we laughed, cried, shared a dinner table with Freaky friends, and seemingly the whole Loge with the rest of the list. So many friendly faces we didn’t even have time so see and chat ’em all up. Energy was great. Vibes were strong. Balloons were embarrassing. “They should sell tote bags instead”…HA! Don’t remember where I saw that but, whooo, that’s rich – well played, sir or ma’am, whoever you are.
Link to NYSMusic published article…
