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.

"My First Blog!" "The Reunion Legacy Band"

The Tradition of "The Reunion Legacy Band" was formulated by a group of guys who grew up together musically, played together for more than 30 years, and are always aspiring to keep alive the traditions initiated by the 'Be-bop' Masters: Miles, Bird, Dizzy, and Monk. Keeping, and maintaining the traditions, the flavors of the past, and then actively taking them forward into the future.....

The Band originally came together in 1990 to record "The Legacy"; Produced by Mickey Bass and released in 1991 on the "Early Bird" Record Label; the original Band members were: John Hicks, Gary Bartz, Charles Tolliver, Grachan Moncur III, Billy Hart and Mickey Bass - a unique, cooperative group.

During their 'formative' years, and living in Brooklyn; Grachen, Charles, and Mickey played a steady gig every Monday night; always with a different drummer and saxophonist. They were the final 'House-Band' at "The Coronet" before it closed..... At that time It was very difficult for younger artists to be leaders on ‘gigs’; the ‘Elder Statesmen’ were predominant in Jazz. However, the experience of working with older and wiser musicians gave Junior Jazz players the experience necessary to truly develop their own sound. Even before this trio migrated to the Mecca of jazz – New York City – they had honed their skills at the North End Lounge – a club in Baltimore owned by Gary Bartzs’ Father. Meanwhile, John Hicks was already living in New York and making ample use of the education he had acquired at Boston’s Berklee School of Music. The four men then played together every weekend. After a time, all these aspiring young musicians came together in New York City and continued to work with one another, on and off.
The Hero’s, who inspired them were; John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, and Bud Powell.
These inspired young journeymen, learned from the legacy of the past, lived in the present and leaned toward the future of jazz..... The resultant collaboration is something like a marriage could be; something old, something new, something borrowed.....and something blue.

Hence the Title of this Album: “The Reunion Legacy Band”

Of the original Band members; two have gone on to become Bandleaders in their own right, one is sadly no longer with us here; but the remaining three will be making a special, rare appearance, together once more, as a part of the Summer Concert Series for the 'serious' Jazz lover: "Jammin' on The Hudson";

Billy Hart, Grachan Moncur III and Mickey Bass; who in the great tradition of the ‘Be-bop’ Masters, of apprenticeship, now include; Josh Evans, who studied with Jackie McLean from the age of fifteen, Aaron Graves, who was first introduced to this Music through Mickey Bass and his “Jazz Ensemble”, whilst he was a student at the prestigious “Ellington School of the Arts”, Washington, D.C. Aaron brings his experience learned with ‘Little Jimmy Scott’. Charles Davis Jr. also joins this band.

Keeping, and maintaining the traditions, the ‘flavors’ of the past…..and then actively taking them forward…into the future.

Riverbank State Park is where 'it’s all happenin’ this Summer, with Our “Jammin’ on The Hudson” series;

Where Great Jazz Music comes to Life!