Review: Mark Lettieri 'Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium'

Mark Lettieri, photo, Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium

Photo: Nelson Oh

Review: Mark Lettieri ‘Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium’

By Brandon Miller

Adventurous and endlessly groovy, Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium is a spectacular instrumental album that showcases one of the best guitarists on the scene.

The Grammy nominated guitarist Mark Lettieri plays in such virtuoso fusion groups as Snarky Puppy and The Fearless Flyers. He’s a sought-after sideman, too, and has recorded and toured with many modern stars including David Crosby, Kirk Franklin, Erykah Badu, Tory Kelly and more. As a successful solo artist, he has produced seven solo albums and earned his first Grammy nomination in 2021.

On August 25th, Lettieri will release Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium, a 14-track album that documents two nights of raw, high-level musical performances. Simply transportive, you might forget that you weren’t there to watch the magic in person.

The Mark Lettieri Group consists of longtime cohorts Jason “JT” Thomas on drums, Wes Stephenson on bass, and newer blood Daniel Porter on keyboards. When asked what inspired the live album, Lettieri says, “I’ve been wanting to capture the live sound of this ensemble, as we’ve been playing together for several years now. It’s an incredibly tight, grooving unit that can take the music in all sorts of ways while still staying true to the compositions.”

If fans expect to hear Mark Lettieri’s material sound exactly like it does on the record, they’d be mistaken. After performing many shows together, the band has developed a “sixth sense,” allowing for interpretation and improvisation. “Everyone has such big ears that we’re all constantly aware of what each other is playing,” he says. “I think it helps that we’re all good friends, road buddies, and just general fans of one another.”

With over seven albums worth of music to pull from, Mark Lettieri isn’t short on material. Out By Midnight features tracks from six of those albums, 2011’s debut album Knows through to 2021’s Grammy-nominated Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol. 2. The new live album takes highlights from his decorated career. Somewhat new to touring as a solo artist, the live album gives others a chance to hear the Mark Lettieri Group as a polished unit.

Over the course of two nights, Mark Lettieri puts on a clinic for guitarists. A musical chameleon and a master of extended techniques, he surveys a myriad of styles from funk, metal, gospel, and everything in between, demonstrating tapping, hybrid picking, harmonics, and beyond. For example, on “Lotus,” Lettieri opens with Pat Metheny-esque chords before pushing the limits of his instrument, producing pitch-sliding sounds with a whammy bar. These moments showcase his virtuosity and ability to explore new sonic territories.

The Mark Lettieri Group demonstrates a breadth of influences with a masterful execution of musicianship. “Extraspecial” begins with a spacey, quiet jazzy vamp before evolving into a heavy funk groove. “Big Duck” brings the energy with a dizzying fusion melody and a guitar tone that recalls Eddie Van Halen. “Catboy” drives with a dirty, slithering guitar riff, synth keyboard sounds, slap bass, and open string chugging like a metal band. It sounds like it could be the soundtrack to an adventure RPG video game.

“Catboy”

Elsewhere, on “Gigantactis,” Lettieri is out in the open, unfolding a breathy blues intro that sounds modern yet respects the greats. His flow builds into high-energy funk. Another memorable moment from the album comes on “Supernova.” The song features Zach Brock, the violinist from Snarky Puppy. He shows us just about everything he can do on fiddle. On Out By Midnight, there is high-level musicianship all around.

Capturing the magic of a live show can be difficult, especially for jam bands. The sights, sounds, and smells are almost just as important as the music itself. The culture is integral to the experience. The live album is the closest way to give that to a listener without actually having been present. You can feel the electricity between the crowd and the band, especially during the quiet parts. On “Little Minz” Lettieri and keyboardist Daniel Porter trade licks, feeding off one another, building the energy higher and higher. The resulting synergy is powerful, unlike any studio recording in his discography.

Out By Midnight: Live at the Iridium feels more than just fodder between studio albums. It’s a signpost, a premature greatest hits collection from a career musician and composer who has yet to reach his peak. If Grammy nomination is any indication, Mark Lettieri is simply someone we ought to look out for.