On Friday, November 22nd, Live For Live Music‘s Funk Sessions series will continue at Denver’s Cervantes’ with a special performance by the Emerald Quintet, the funky, Jazz Fest late-night-born supergroup featuring decorated (and musically deranged) saxophonist Skerik, Galactic drummer Stanton Moore, JRAD guitarist Scott Metzger, John Scofield Band bassist Andy Hess, and 20th Congress/Mike Gordon organ wizard Robert Walter (purchase tickets here).

Earlier this year, both Moore and Skerik decided to revive their collaboration from the late ’90s on the former’s solo debut album, All Kooked Out!, which got the live treatment in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. In honor of the collaboration’s 20th anniversary, the two musicians decided to team up with Metzger, Walter, and Hess to bring the project to the Crescent City during Jazz Fest 2019. The group also played a set at this past summer’s High Sierra Music Festival. The Emerald Quintet will bring that momentum to Denver for their Funk Sessions performance, which serves as the band’s only scheduled date in Colorado.

Skerik, of course, is no stranger to getting all-star musicians involved on far-reaching improv sets. Six years ago, in November 2013, he lead an all-star cast of musicians through an improv-based performance as part of his “Orchestra at Large” set at the now-defunct though widely beloved Bear Creek Music Festival in Live Oak, FL.

The performance that afternoon featured a revolving door of players who included his Les Claypool’s Fancy Band colleague Mike Dillon, George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce), James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band), Freekbass, and Eric Krasno (Soulive), just to name a few. The performances were all over the place musically, with no real boundaries set to limit the communal improv playing being composed and delivered right there on the spot in front of the fans. It’s just something you need to hear for yourself. Thankfully, a full video of the set circulates online, so you can relive it below:

Skerik’s Orchestra At Large – Bear Creek Music Festival – 11/17/13 

[Video: TheFunkItBlog]

Tickets for the Funk Sessions featuring the Emerald Quintet on Friday, November 22nd are currently on sale and can be purchased here. For event updates and additional information, join the Facebook Event page here.

**SHOW INFO**

Artists: Live For Live Music Presents The Funk Sessions ft. Emerald Quintet w/ Stanton Moore (Galactic), Skerik, Scott Metzger (JRAD), Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars), and Andy Hess (John Scofield Band)
Date: Friday – November 22nd, 2019
Venue: Cervantes’ The Other Side (2637 Welton St, Denver, CO)
Ages: 16+
Time: Doors 8 p.m. / Show 8:30pm
TICKETS: $25 adv / $30 dos (purchase tickets)