Elijah McLaughlin, Caleb Willitz and Tommaso Moretti at Thawed Out Fest in Chicago on April 26, 2025

Chicago jazz musicians Elijah McLaughlin and Caleb Willitz were last showcased on this blog soon after their amazing performance at the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Fest. Once again they brought fierce percussionist Tommaso Moretti with them for their set at the 2025 Thawed Out Fest. The results were nothing short of exceptional.

Purchase Elijah and Caleb's most recent album here.

Recording information:

ELIJAH McLAUGHLIN
CALEB WILLITZ
TOMMASO MORETTI
2025-04-26
Chicago, IL at the iO Theater
2025 Thawed Out Fest
Outside Stage

Elijah McLaughlin: guitar
Caleb Willitz: piano and trumpet
Tommaso Moretti: drums

Setlist:
01 Improvisation One (25:08)
02 Improvisation Two (5:05)
Total time = 30:13

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre3 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (182 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (84 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Elijah McLaughlin and Caleb Willitz at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 11, 2024

This year's Psych Fest could be thought of as the year that the festival embraced jazz and jazz-inspired music.  I think that was an excellent idea of the festival’s curator, guitarist Andrew Shelp.  Nothing is more psychedelic than the right kind of jazz.

  

One of the jazz musicians who came into Milwaukee for the Festival was Chicago-based guitarist Elijah McLaughlin, who along with keyboardist/trumpeter Caleb Willitz will be releasing an album on Centripetal Force Records today, June 7.

McLaughlin has also recently released three fine albums (on Astral Spirits and Tomkins Square labels) with the Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble.

This performance was completely improvised, and was memorable for its thoughtful and at time times extremely delicate playing.

Purchase their latest album here.

Recording information:

ELIJAH McLAUGHLIN and CALEB WILLITZ
024-05-11
Milwaukee Psych Fest

Elijah McLaughlin: guitar
Caleb Willitz: keyboards, trumpet
Tommaso Moretti: drums

Tracklist:
01 Improvisation (40:06)

Total time = 40:06

microphones: Line Audio OM1 omni pair in spaced A-B
additional source: soundboard feed
software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (203 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (97 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible