Podcast 143: A Conversation with Marco Benevento

Keyboard player Marco Benevento is a logical candidate for "hardest working man in jazz". He performs solo; in a duo on organ with his long-time friend drummer Joe Russo; in a trio currently on tour; and numerous other formats. He recently played the New Orleans Jazz Festival and gigged across the city with the Benevento/Russo Duo, Garage A Trois (featuring Stanton Moore) and has been fronting an all-instrumental Led Zeppelin cover band called Bustle in Your Hedgerow. You can see him at small jazz clubs, large hippie festivals like Mountain Jam and everywhere in between.I spoke with Marco in advance of his performances in my neck of the woods, May 8 at the Iron Horse Saloon in Northampton, Massachusetts and Real Art Ways in Hartford, Connecticut. We talked about his various gigs, the basis for his unique sound, and the state of music today.Click here to listen to the Podcast, which includes the interview, along with the following songs, some of which Marco commented upon:Marco Benevento Trio - "You Must Be a Lion" and "The Real Morning Party"recorded live 2009-04-07 at the Hideaway Saloon, Louisville, KY. The Trio for this happening performance was Benevento on piano, Simon Lott (Charlie Hunter Trio) on drums and Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey) on bass.Marco Benevento - "Sing It Again" from Me Not Me. The Trio for these recording sessions were Benevento, Mathis and either Matt Chamberlain (Floratone with Bill Frisell) 0r Andrew Barr of The Slip. It's a highly lyrical cover of a Beck tune from the Mutations CD.Marco Benevento - "Atari" from Invisible Baby. A funkier side of Marco's personality shows up here, as the same group as in Me Not Me goes electric with Benevento on organ, piano, mellotron and a host of other electronic goodies.Bustle In Your Hedgerow - "Trampled Underfoot" recorded live 2005-07-31 - at the Subterranean, Chicago, IL. An all-Zep set was played that night, featuring Benevento on Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer, and Circuit Bent Toys, Dave Dreiwitz (Ween) on Bass, Scott Metzger on Guitar, and Joe Russo on drums. Hammer of the Gods indeed!