Well, it's been many months since Marco wowed us all at Tonic with his immense talent and infectious love of music. I've been lucky to have been basking in the sights and sounds of his residency since then, as I've been editing the footage from each of those delicious Wednesdays last November (and weren't we all glad the calendar graced us with FIVE Wednesdays that month...)

Below is a collection of some highlights from Marco's amazing residency. It features some of his rather talented friends, like Mike Gordon, Bobby Previte, Mike Dillon, Steven Bernstein... the list goes on and on. Yes, that's Brad Barr playing a drum with one of Marco's old Wurlitzer keys. Yes, that red-head dancing and playing the flute is none other than Sir Joe Russo. Even half of the Ween team, Claude Coleman and Dave Driewitz (pictured here), showed up one evening to back Marco, despite the fact that Coleman had never met Marco face to face before that evening. You certainly would never know it after listening to the two hours of music they created that night...

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCO'S RESIDENCY HERE:

The fine folks at Ropeadope are going to release much of the material on a multi-disc set this summer, and as you'll see in the clip, the range of Marco's material is vast. Thelonious Monk ditties sit beside Pink Floyd tunes, and little-known songs from Leonard Cohen and Elliot Smith will send you back to your record collection to revisit them. Marco's jazz chops being what they are, prepare to be floored by the free-jazz improvisations that he created each night alongside the likes of seasoned veterans like Matt Chamberlain or Steven Bernstein.

The Benevento/Haas/Previte/Skerik Combo - On Saturday, another branch on the ever intertwined acid groove/Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey/Duo/Frog Brigade family tree blossomed at New York's Knitting Factory Tap Bar. Though billed as a trio performance by JFJO's Brian Haas, Skerik and drummer Bobby Previte, Marco Benevento joined his longtime friends on keyboards throughout the evening. While the abovementioned players will likely collaborate in a variety of settings in the coming weeks, two unique configurations are of particular note: a May 25 performance by Previte, Benevento, Skerik and Charlie Hunter, Skerik at New York's Tonic and a June 2 performance by Previte, Benevento and saxophonists Dave Binney, Briggan Krauss at New York's 55 Bar. [Relix News]