Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO | By Patrick Jarenwattananon

Published April 10, 2013 at 2:15 PM EDT

1 of 12 — Jeff Ballard.

Jeff Ballard.

2 of 12 — Jeff Parker.

Jeff Parker.

3 of 12 — Kevin Hays.

Kevin Hays.

4 of 12 — Eddie Henderson.

Eddie Henderson.

5 of 12 — Eddie Henderson.

Eddie Henderson.

6 of 12 — Jeff Ballard.

Jeff Ballard.

7 of 12 — Larry Grenadier.

Larry Grenadier.

8 of 12 — Jeff Parker.

Jeff Parker.

9 of 12 — Jeff Parker, backstage.

Jeff Parker, backstage.

10 of 12 — Jeff Ballard, backstage.

Jeff Ballard, backstage.

11 of 12 — Outside the Village Vanguard.

Outside the Village Vanguard.

12 of 12 — Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds in concert.

Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds in concert.

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