Craig Ventresco and Meredith Axelrod - Cold Mornin' Shout - Porto Franco Files

This Craig and Meredith episode of PFF was one of the very first we recorded when we decided to start this series in May, and I'm happy to finally release this beautiful performance of the old Bobby Leecan tune they rearranged for two guitars.
I met Craig and Meredith about 4 years ago. There could have been a few connections - either through Gaucho shows at Amnesia or Craig and Meredith's own regular show at Atlas Cafe or Charleston dancing at one of the many local bars or cafes. A little while later he played a regular show with Rob Reich (accordionist with The Nice Guy Trio and Gaucho) who chose to play guitar and piano for his collaboration with Craig - a short-lived amazing collaboration reviving old pop tunes of the jazz era. Craig has a couple of albums out and he can be heard on Gaucho's second album and our label's first ever release "Deep Night".
I remember always seeing Meredith around Bernal Heights neighborhood way before I actually got to meet her. I had just moved to San Francisco - my first time moving out of my parents place if you don't count college 4 years earlier. I worked on my computer at Progressive Grounds cafe, and she would always come with her guitar case and read. She later recorded on guitar, jug and vocals on our second release - Devine's Jug Band's "Terrible Operation Blues".
Craig and Meredith play many local regular gigs in San Francisco. Find their schedule at www.craigventresco.com
You can buy the original on Document Records label here: www.document-records.com/fulld... or on iTunes
or see it here: • Cold Morning Shout-Sou...
Song by Bobby Leecan
Craig Ventresco - guitar
Meredith Axelrod - guitar
Video by Peter Varshavsky
Sound by Adam Willumsen

[@banjojudy]

How could anyone give them a thumbs down? These two have kept a large group of fans sane during the 2020 pandemic. They are absolutely fine musicians!

[@johnnelson7625]

People are nuts, that's why.

[@slgis]

Craig Ventresco is one of the best guitarist in the world. Bar none. Every time I see him play, it's inspiring.

[@TheCosmicDolphin]

Somebody must have gone back in time to find these two. They're too damn good to be of this era... Haven't heard anything like his in a long while. It's refreshing.

[@johnnelson7625]

Better than morning coffee - fantastic!

[@markvallack]

I can't stop watching this.

[@rickatica]

I love the way she smiles when she hits a note just perfectly, she is a beauty anyway, but especially when she gives that little smile.

[@gaylordfrazer8708]

This collection of Blues is outstanding. Bruce Frazer

[@anitanuthurgun984]

Expletive Yes. For you been loving long time MAGNIFIQUE🎉

[@roberttemple2521]

i remeber craig playing in the old port part of portland maine in the early 1990s. such a fine player, as well as meredith. really nice to finally see and hear him again.

[@sutterchip]

Craig and Meredith play like they're wired together! Playing off the same punched tape or paper roll; they're incredible!

[@msragged88]

Fabulous guitar playing!

[@johnmurphy6259]

FANTASTIC

[@SteveGoldfield]

Craig and Meredith are in San Francisco so I've been able to see them a number of times. You also need to hear Meredith sing; her voice sounds like a singer on old 78s. Lately, she has been touring with Jim Kweskin, and they have a great CD together, too.

[@meredithanthraxelrod]

thank you! I just got this

[@SecondHalfofLife]

Brilliant!

[@temriver]

Just can't rave enough. These two are unbelievable. What a great vid. Thanks!

[@Squarerig]

I cannot find the right adjectives with which to describe my admiration of this amazing couple!If music be the food of love:play on Craig and Meredith!!

[@briansinclair4961]

WOW I can't get enoufh of this .

[@lanc3man]

Two superb guitarists ! What more can I say !!!

[@Squarerig]

Now I SEE how he does it!Terrific duo.Thanks Portofranco.

[@banjochris]

Great filming, and an even better performance! Thanks!

[@PeterzVidz1]

This duo is a two-person twenty piece orchestra!

[@ronlowfi]

Insane Good!

[@jt4531]

what a couple dude!

[@TheSpikehere]

This is class.

[@Pickernik]

Holey moley!!!! This is wonderful!

[@ArnaudLACHAMBRE]

Ça, c'est de la musique! Bravo à vous deux!

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

There's a large window to the right of Meredith. That was the main light. There are a couple of small windows in the darker part of the room, so we got some fill from those, as well as from all the reflections from the off-white walls. Video is shot with two Canon dSLRs with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens on the main camera, and then color corrected slightly in post. The 70-200 gives a great shallow depth of field look.

[@JoeDaveycrockettsoundlabs]

Aaaah man! You guys are killin' it! Always wanted to do this song. Keep it up.

[@SonBrimmer]

oh my god. guahhghh! that is real.

[@orisonrollins8837]

WONDERFUL! Thank you!

[@TheEaglefield]

so AWWWESOME!

[@thecrowquillnightowls8874]

Just fantastic!

[@JPHappo]

What a groove!!!!!!

[@JPHappo]

Superb!!

[@srapinus32]

Magic moments by hearing you! Thanks a lot! :)

[@Jan_Christian_Gjems]

Great!

[@brunonicolasd.oyarce310]

Sin palabras... excelente jajaja nose, impresionante nada mas que añadir.

[@GoodaMaster]

That makes happy ! Awesome :)

[@drumsticksusa]

Really Really Nice!

[@larvalangel]

Craig still has that look on his face, I talked to him when I saw Bo Grumpus in San D twenty some-odd years ago and he described himself as "self loathing" hehe😋

[@stevejaubert2892]

It's a damned shame what baggage we get from life. Maybe a small consolation is it can fuel us for what we do with what we have. Craig is an incredible guitar performer. I know it's some talent but he looks like a guy who found what he loves and worked hard to get where he is.

[@CRISTIANBRUNOFOTO]

GRACIAS

[@crustyceant]

wow what a great video and a fuckin awesome songwell done the south street trio are amazing

[@BabyBoomerChannel]

Rocking the Fraulini.!!!!

[@TheRamundo]

BRAVISSIMI

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

@Squarerig Our pleasure. Hope to do more with them.

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

@torsbyn Hey. We did 2 or 3 cameras. It was one of our first shoots at our office. Thanks for watching.

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

@TheEaglefield Thanks!

[@DanFrechette]

This is top shit!

[@LucasGonze]

Great. Really nice to see real videography on their stuff. My one misgiving is that there isn't enough audio separation, so sometimes the mix turns into mud.

[@torsbyn]

Great performace. Their concentration is captivating as always. This a multi camera work? Has the looks of it. Good to se a video with some ambition...

[@floobuscanoobus]

If there is a god these guys would be famous....

[@LucasGonze]

Too bad but understandable. What were you using for the video, lighting, etc? The photography really works.

[@pedrosaulo1144]

There is a partiture of it?

[@TheClemcaster]

Is this being played in the morning? Because it's not natural to be playing like that first thing.

[@homzymusic]

Wonderful arrangement - especially considering the poor tuning on the original version -

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

Sorry, man. It's a pretty live room, and back then we only had two 57/58 mics and virtually no recording experience. Cheers.

[@josephlinton8560]

:) :) :) what's to :)

[@zeropoleski4360]

ditto squarerig. just dumbfounding, these two.

[@PortoFrancoRecords]

@TheEaglefield Thanks!