The Mickey Bass New York Powerhouse Ensemble

For over three decades, Goddard Riverside has hosted a series of Musical Evenings featuring outstanding musicians; The high intensity of this band of Players, with their 'take no prisoners' attitude promises to be a rare Musical treat, and is not to be missed! This band is exactly what it says it is -- A Powerhouse, and maintaining that particular 'mix' will be; Lakecia Benjamin; Alto Sax, Charles Davis Jr; Tenor Sax, Alan Palmer; Piano, Eric Allen; Drums and Bandleader Mickey Bass on Bass.

"Mickey Bass's long-running ensemble is hard bop with fire and soul; the jumping quintet always lives up to it's name..... Gary Giddins, 'Voice Choices', The Village Voice

"You don't often see the Bassist down front leading the band, but here's a Bass man who is eminently qualified for the job....with this man leading, energy is guaranteed.... And everything will sound fresh." Joe Klopus, The Kansas City Star.

Legendary Bassist & Bandleader Mickey Bass is a Hard-bop veteran. As a "Jazz Messenger" he Recorded, Composed & Arranged for Art Blakey. Also worked as a Bassist with Billy Eckstine, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard and Sonny Rollins, to name but a few, and Gloria Lynne, for whom he also served as Musical Director. Recordings include stints with; Hank Mobley & Lee Morgan for "Blue Note" Records, Bobby Timmons on "Prestige" and Curtis Fuller on "Mainstream"......

Meanwhile...back to the Band! A powerful young woman is on Alto Sax; Ms. Lakecia Benjamin. A native New Yorker, who graduated from The New School, into Clark Terry's Big Band "Terry's young Titans of Jazz", with whom she then began to tour the World. Recently she has also played with Alicia Keyes, Stevie Wonder, and Rashied Ali. Tenor Saxophonist, Charles Davis Jr. originally 'hails' from Milwaukee, and has worked with Roy Haynes, and The Sun Ra Orchestra. Pianist Allen Palmer, has played with Jackie McLean, and Abraham Burton, and recently played in the revival of the Off-Broadway play "The Connection". Our bombardier; Eric Allen is a former alumni of Mr. Bass' Jazz Ensemble at The Ellington School of The Arts, and has played extensively with Wallace Roney's Quintet. He has also toured Japan with Vocalist Helen Merrill, and played in Illinois Jacquet's band, along with Richard Wyands and 'Slam' Stewart.

Goddard Riverside Community Center: "changing lives.....creating hope.....opening doors...... "Our programs are designed to meet the basic needs of the participants and simultaneously inject new learning, stimulate curiosity and motivate participants to become more aware of the world around them and take action to better and enrich their lives." Goddard is located at 593 Columbus Avenue in New York; on the corner of 88th Street. Concerts are from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.

Please note: This is a Free Jazz Concert - to which all program participants, staff, community members, family and friends are welcome. Seating is limited to 200 seats; please pick up a ticket at 593 Columbus Avenue starting on April 7th to ensure seating.

Phone number: (212) 873-6600

Website: www.goddard.org

FULFILLING, WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING, IN THE MUSIC.....FOR SO LONG

By: Mickey Bass
as Published in All About Jazz issue of April 2009

Jazz, as we once knew it has become a thing of the past. For a lot of years Clubs and Promoters have been saying that this Music is dead. My response to that statement is "How can Jazz be dead when its' creators are still alive, and well and 'creating'?" In other words; if it ain't broke....we wish you wouldn'a 'fixed' it.....

Years ago if you turned on the Radio, within five seconds you knew, without question who was playing. That reality, of an immediately identifiable sound, and persona is a far cry from today. Today what we mostly hear are; good Arrangements, with all the right notes being played, but the Music, on the whole lacks the energy, the fire that Bands in that golden age all had.

In the last thirty years or so, thanks to the efforts of people like Quincy Jones, Dr. David Baker and Thelonious Monk Jr. the Jazz studies programs throughout the scholastic system have led to a greater awareness of this music amongst young people. Yet, it seems that Europeans have always had a far greater awareness and appreciation for this American Classic Music "Our National Treasure".

Throughout the 'Fifties, 'Sixties and 'Seventies, Apprenticeship programs were readily available in this Country, whereby; in order to learn and grow, a Musician could come up through the ranks with Art Blakey & The "Jazz Messengers", Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, The Jazztet, or Miles Davis. This type of incubator was the 'tradition', the road to learning and developing your own sound and voice.

So. At this point in time, what can we do to restore the integrity to this 'arena'? How can we recreate those Apprenticeship programs? Where are all the new John Coltrane's, Miles Davis's or any other Innovators on the scene of this generation? How can we bring this great and totally unique Music back up to the levels, the standards from which it should have never fallen? What can we do to encourage each individual to develop their own unique sound?

Too much of everything nowadays appears to be about following patterns. Following patterns is a part of it, but only a part of it and can become 'formulaic'; it produces a monotonous clone, rather than a spontaneous - brilliant - spark to the imagination. And therein lies the root of the problem.

If we want to follow a pattern, then what new pattern could be put in place that could revive these standards, of recognition of true greatness, of Leadership and Apprenticeship? It seems that nowadays there is a great market for 'Moderate'.....

At difficult times like these, I believe that the Arts are needed more than ever; because the Arts re-affirm who we are as human beings.

The Kaufmann Center has some very interesting Series, as a matter of fact I did a performance over there with then of Freddie Redd's; "Re-connected" Music from "The Connection", which is now being performed Off-Broadway, with Rene McLean taking his Fathers' role. Jazz @ Lincoln Center is certainly doing many things.....

But, it's more than simply a Museum; in order for the music to retain its' vitality there has to be new lifeblood - so many clubs are doing tributes to many of those great Artists who are sadly no longer with us, which is great - but how about 'Honoring' those who are still here, in our midst, and too seldom heard?

And as a matter of fact we are doing just that, because "Don't talk about it, be about it!"; we have a wonderful "Jazz Legacy Series in a very nice environment", where we are booking all of those true Giants, who are able to be in the vicinity of "Creole"; Curtis Fuller,

Charles Davis, James Spaulding, Lee Konitz, Wallace Roney, Grady Tate. Yes we are doing it and keeping this Jazz tradition alive with some of the Original Innovators, who are still alive and 'kickin'!

How can you Lead, if you do not yet know how to follow? Who can you follow, if those great Masters of this Music are not being heard on the Bandstand?

I love 'Be-bop', I grew up in it, and on it.....I want to perpetuate it because there are a lot of Musical Architects who are no longer with us.....There can be no future without a past, as far as the Music is concerned.

You can read more about Mickey Bass at

www.mickeybass.com or at www.allaboutjazz.com

Mickey has a forthcoming Book, of his own, Hartt College accredited, Original Jazz Improvisational Method; "The Diminished Whole Tone Concept" (c) 2009. One of the major differences of approach in this Method is that rather than simply giving patterns to repeat, to learn from, rather it is an entire aesthetic to absorb, and assimilate, which is much needed in order to truly develop ones' own, unique, individual voice to be heard.

"The Diminished Whole Tone Concept" (c) 2009 will be available through rainbowjazz.com

Mickey also has a Brand New Release out on his "Early Bird" Record label, it's called:

The Mickey Bass New York Powerhouse Ensemble, 'Live' at the Jazz Corner of the World, of which he has said:

"It is my belief, that this record will set a precedent for the future, Because it fulfills what has been lacking in the Music, for so long....."

Early Bird" Records are available at www.rainbowjazz.com

Mickey Bass & "The New York Concert Ensemble"

Sunday August 10th 2008; features the ‘re-emergence’ of an All Star Band, which at its’ original inception featured Tommy Turrentine, Bobby Watson, Chico Freeman, Kiani Zawadi, John Hicks, Billy Hart and Mickey Bass; an All Star band, which was the ‘brain-child’ of Mickey Bass; The Mickey Bass Concert Ensemble. This Band was featured at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center, and subsequently at The Bandshell in Central Park, where the configuration had evolved to feature more “Young Lions”; Steve Nelson, Wallace Roney, Branford Marsalis, Mickey Bass, Manny Boyd, Robin Eubanks, and Michael Carvin. Now after much too long of a hiatus this Band is ready to ‘re-emerge’ with another great cast of characters!

Firstly; on Trumpet, is featured ‘a new star on the horizon’, he studied with Jackie Mc Lean since he was fifteen and has thus far worked with Rashid Ali, Benny Golson and Winard Harper. You’ll surely hear a lot more from him, his name is Josh Evans. Co-BandLeader and Alto Saxaphonist Rene Mclean, is the very talented son of the late, Great Jackie Mclean; a young gentlemen who has worked and recorded over the years with his Father’s Band and has, himself, been keeping the tradition alive and well. The tenor Saxophonist, Charles Davis Jr. originally 'hails' from Milwaukee, and has worked with Roy Haynes, and The Sun Ra Orchestra. Our Trombonist is an original member of The Concert Ensemble, who was also featured on "Sentimental Mood", on "Early Bird" Records. His long, and illustrious career has led him to play, and record with such Artists as Slide Hampton, James Moody, Mongo Santomaria, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie and Aretha Franklin. He has recorded on the "Blue Note", "Impulse" and "Strata East" Record labels. We are more than happy to have him re-join us here; Mr. Kiani Zawadi. The pianist has played with Jackie McLean, and with Abraham Burton, working the 'rounds' of New York City, is 'newcomer' Allen Palmer. On Drums; our 'bombadier' is somewhat of a 'newcomer' on the New York Jazz Scene today. A recent Graduate of "The New School", who counts Joe Chambers as being amongst his 'Mentors'. This young man is fast establishing himself as one of the new talents on the scene today, he has worked with Myron Walden, Mickey Bass, Rene McLean and James Spaulding, amongst others; this 'emerging' young talent is Emanuel Harrold.
Which brings us to the man, whos' 'Brain-child' this configuration is; Internationally recognised, Bassist 'Extraordinaire' Mickey Bass, on Bass; also the Band-Leader, Composer and Arranger; His achievements are many.....

Several of the Band members are featured on "Sentimental Mood", released on the "Early Bird" Record Label, which features; "Rare Recordings; Collectors Items of Limited Editions:

" When Mickey Bass & "The Co-operation" get in the 'right groove', the right groove being a loose, driving, up-tempo, it is doubtful, if there is another Jazz group in town that swings as hard as this one." John S. Wilson. The New York Times.