Photos and Recap by Stephen Bloch

The 1970’s were considered to be the heyday of the Supergroup.  Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Blind Faith, and The Yardbirds put together the best rock and roll musicians at the time. A bit later came the ultimate supergroup, The Traveling Willburys.  Long before Supergroups became a thing, jazz musicians were doing sessions. Coltrane, David, Shorter, and countless others would get together to play and record.  Trios, quartets, quintet, etc. 

On Friday night, Garcia’s, Chicago’s newest venture from Peter Shapiro of Brooklyn Bowl/Cap Theater/Relix fame, hosted TODAY’S supergroup, Medeski, Cline, Moore, and Skerik.  This was a show that defied convention.  Medeski introduced the show “as a mix of songs you may know and songs we don’t know” essentially saying that there would be improvisational jams.  That was absolutely the case.  

The two hour show consisted of seamless transitions between jazzy numbers, glitchy jams, funky grooves, and everything in between.  Each band member had their chance to strut.  

Medeski has put together all-star groups for years.  This one is the benchmark.  

Safe to say that the world needs more Medeski and whatever magic potion he’s mixing up.