Hear Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline Kick Out The Jams At Post-Phish Concert

While “supergroup” may be an overused term, there’s no denying a band consisting of John Medeski, Billy Martin, Scott Metzger and Nels Cline most certainly qualifies for use of the descriptor. Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline shared the stage together this past Saturday, December 30 for a late-night post-Phish show filled with improvised grooves at New York City’s Sony Hall.

The Medeski Martin & Wood keyboardist and drummer, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist and Wilco guitarist previously united at the same room four years earlier on December 28, 2019. At their second performance, the quartet was augmented by master Senegalese griot percussionist Aba Diop for the last 90 minutes of their two-hour show.

Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline treated fans to seven distinct improvisations with Diop aboard for the final five. The musicians varied tempos and feels throughout the set and often went from zero to 60 in a flash. Diop added extra layers to the jams which each covered plenty of ground. John Medeski had his full rig as he moved from organ to Wurlitzer to Clavinet to synth, while Cline — who celebrates his 68th birthday today — and Metzger both had ample opportunities to shred.

Official video of the complete performance can be viewed on-demand exclusively at Volume.com. Watch a particularly impressive movement from the show and stream an audience recording taped by Michael Buzzeo and shared by nognuisagoodgnu below:

• 0:00:00 Improv 1
• 0:19:29 Improv 2
• 0:29:21 Band intros
• 0:31:07 Improv 3*
• 0:40:57 Improv 4*
• 0:47:37 Improv 5*
• 1:07:36 Improv 6*
• 1:34:30 Improv 7*

*with Aba Diop on percussion