Events

[INDIE] Marco Benevento refuses to sit still. He tours relentlessly, and when he’s not on the road, he’s either writing/recording new material or lending his jazzy instincts to side projects like re-interpreting the work of Led Zeppelin, playing in the trio Garage a Trois or participating in a Grateful Dead cover band (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead). He seems game for just about any other mischievous one-off suggested by someone from his circle of merry pranksters, but for the last few years he’s concentrated more closely on his solo work, solidifying a fan base culled from the corners of the jam band community that reacts well to his shapeshifting blend of Elton John and Dr. John. Throw in a hint of Leon Russell and a pinch of Phish’s gift for absurdist humor and… well, you get the picture. It’s only recently that he’s begun singing on his own recordings – a bold step for a reluctant vocalist that’s further branded his sound as something singular. Beneath his (super cute) sheepish, slacker image exists a gifted keyboardist and composer. It’s an ingredient that demands to be taken seriously, even when he’s summoning up amusing little noises from the Casio sampler that sits atop his piano.

Benevento, 39, returns to Buffalo Iron Works on Tuesday, January 31, on the eve of releasing a new live album, The Woodstock Sessions, out February 17 on the Royal Potato Family imprint he co-founded. Sessions is actually a series: Past participants include Bad Brains and Medeski, Martin and Wood. It’s a perfect showcase for an up-close examination of his live musical chops since it retains the benefit of being a studio recording (done in one take before a live audience at Applehead Recording in Woodstock, NY). The Woodstock Sessions is seven extended tracks spread over an hour (including the 22-minute opus, “The Story of Fred Short,” Fred Short being the name of the recording studio he calls his own) featuring his current touring band-mates, Karina Rykman (bass) and Andy Borger (drums), and it makes a great entry point for the uninitiated-but-curious. You needn’t wait for release day, however, since Benevento is here Tuesday night with openers Maybird.