Stanton Moore was a man in constant motion throughout the two weekends of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the days between. One of the highlights of the Galactic drummer’s jam-packed Jazz Fest schedule was a Stanton & Friends late-night show on the second Thursday, May 2nd, technically early-morning Friday, at the Toulouse Theatre.
For this performance at the start of Jazz Fest weekend two, Moore called up special Friends Robert Walter (keyboards, Mike Gordon), Skerik (saxophone, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade), Will Bernard (guitar), and Big Sam (trombone, Big Sam’s Funky Nation). New Orleans luminary Moore has deep ties with all these musicians, and the title “Stanton & Friends” was much more than just a name.
Stanton has made three records with Will Bernard and Robert Walter, so it was fitting that the show began with that core trio. Of the three shows Stanton Moore led at the Toulouse Theatre during Jazz Fest, this one felt most personal. Following the wildly experimental edition of The Funk Sessions with Nels Cline, Wil Blades, and Skerik and Moore’s traditional Frequinauts with Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr., Robert Mercurio, Robert Walter, and Will Bernard, Stanton got much more acquainted with the audience at Stanton & Friends. Between songs, he interacted with the audience, pontificating on the music and elaborating on his relationships with the musicians onstage.
Skerik and Big Sam eventually joined the party to add their horns. After Skerik was forced to sit out last year’s Jazz Fest due to a shoulder injury, everyone seemed especially grateful to have the sax psycho in the mix this year, a feeling that emanated from the stage and the audience alike. Stanton at one point even exclaimed, “I got my buddy back!” There was plenty of love too for Big Sam, with whom Stanton has played for 20-some-odd years. Getting a word in edgewise between Stanton’s monologues, Big Sam remarked “We wanna have some fun, it’s just music.” And boy did we have fun.
Check out a partial video from Stanton Moon & Friends featuring Robert Walter, Skerik, Will Bernard, and Big Sam courtesy of FunkItBlog.
Stanton Moore & Friends — Toulouse Theatre — New Orleans, LA — 5/2/24 — Partial Video
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