Alto saxist Mark Toomey tells me that he had a great gig at Saltburn on Friday recreating the original line up and arrangements of the legendary Charlie Parker With Strings sessions.
Over a hundred people turned out to celebrate this timeless music.
It was a tribute to Charlie Parker who died 60 years ago tomorrow (March 12, 1955).
It also happens to be Mark's birthday today (it's been a good week for birthdays!) and we'd like to wish him many happy gigs and may he continue to spread the gospel according to St. Bird.
As an afterthought, if it can pull 100 people in Saltburn then this show deserves to be heard further afield.
Lance.
Mark Toomey (alto); Kevin Eland (trumpet); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Peter
Ayton (bass); Kevin O’Neal (drums); Philip Cull (oboe/cor anglais); Gordon
Dyke, Geo Dyke, Anna Dyke (violins); Bruce Taylor (viola); Anita Aslin (harp)
4 comments :
Well done Mark. A fantastic effort and a long time ambition fulfilled.
Congratulations.
Great idea! It would be great to see this in the Newcastle area - I've always loved those records!
Hi Lance, I forgot to list the Cello player Gordon Callander who also did a great job of setting up the sound system for the gig. Kevin Eland played the French Horn parts on his Flugal Horn which worked great. We also played some quintet numbers as a contrast to the strings. I used the original arrangements (transcribed) from the 1945 Dizzy Gillespie / Charlie Parker quintet and some from the band that he had with Miles Davis.
Brilliant night of music, really enjoyed it. The band played so well together. Thanks Mark and the rest of the band.
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