Review: LIVE FROM SPACE (DVD) Paul Wertico's Mid-East/Mid-West Alliance

I could never imagine being a professional drummer at age 15, unlike Chicago jazz drummer, Paul Wertico who, I should also mention, is a seven-time Grammy award winner. To be frank, Wertico receives praise up the arse: being voted “Fusion! Drummer of the Year” in the 1997 DRUM! Magazine reader's poll and placed in the top five in the modern day, “Electric Jazz” category in Modern Drummer Magazine's reader's poll in 1997/1998. The Chicago Tribune also named Wertico one of the, “Chicagoans of the Year,” in 2004. Besides his accolades, Wertico has played on many modern day jazz classics including his work with the Pat Metheny Group during the 1980s and '90s, up until he left the group in 2001. When not touring, Wertico engages himself in numerous creative activities in the Chicago area and has since played with ethnomusicologist Paul Berliner and KUDU and the Memphis Nighthawks.

Wertico and his new quintet, Paul Wertico's Mid-East/Mid-West Alliance, comprised of Israeli duo Marbin and Chicago's Paul Wertico Trio, recently released a live DVD titled Live From Space. The DVD takes place during the album release party for the band's album, Impressions of a City, and consists of the band's second time playing together (the first was the recording of the album).

The show is presented, visually, in a very professional manner – multiple camera angles accompanied by a fully mixed and mastered multi-track audio recording so every viewer can witness/listen to every note. The show begins with a 43 minute fully improvised, acid-jazz jam session, reminiscent of the album itself. The band then kick into Wertico's back catalog, playing “African Sunset,” an eight minute masterpiece followed by a terrific, four minute drum solo from Wertico himself, so viewers can see what all the fuss is about. The latter half of the DVD is a half hour of Wertico's most precious work, ending with the spacious and groovy, “Testament.” For Wertico fans, this DVD is a must have, showcasing innovative, finely tuned jazz talent. For new fans of modern jazz, this would be a staple, and a great place to start before your journey backwards.

Published by This Zine