The Next Phase…
I’ve since done some tweaking of the standard quartet orchestration (Sax-Chords-Bass-Drums). At first I added a second Chordal instrument. Playing once, at the end of September ‘08 at the Ivy Room in Albany, with vibes and guitar. A week later, I used guitar and keys at Linden Street. Then I got an opportunity (And a budget!!) to do an experiment I had on the drawing board for several months… use a rhythm section with 2 drummers, and 2 bassists. Linden kicked me down a gig, and I brought out the whole crew. In addition to Weems on drums, I brought in Andrew Griffin on drumset, Rafael Ramirez on percussion, Canton and Smith on bass, Rob Lyons on guitar. Plus a guest appearance by John Gordon on guitar, and his nephew on trombone. It was wild. Everyone had a great time, and I’m pleased to say that we are going to take it to the studio in early ‘09. In the meantime, I have some composing (well, arranging) to handle.
I had the honor of splitting the bill with the Laney College Big Band on December 8. I sat in on “Caravan” on tenor sax, and on “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” on digital sax. After a brief intermission, I brought in my quintet for the night: Patrick Petzel on grand piano, John Gordon on guitar, Peter Canton on bass, and Steve Weems on drums. We played a few songs from one of the first CDs I ever owned, Ben Webster’s “Soulville.” We played the title cut, a dead-slow 60BPM blues; plus we played “Late Date,” a more-traditional blues at 120BPM. Also on the bill were versions of Dexter Gordon’s “Fried Bananas;” Benny Golson’s “Stablemates,” dedicated to the memory of good friend (and fellow Laney Big Band tenor sax alum) Bruce Blackman; an original vamp-medley; and an original of mine, “Remembrance.”
Patrick Petzel (piano), Steve Weems (drums), Peter Canton (bass), Colin Gleason (sax), John Gordon (guitar). Photo: Brian Compton
