"The 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.

   " Here, on this premiere album with Mickey as Leader, Composer, Arranger, Conductor and Featured Artist we find him surrounded by some very old and dear, tried and true friends both socially and in this case, most importantly, professionally.This Album is dedicated to Duke Ellington and Bobby Timmons. One gentleman, an extremely profound influence both Musically and Orchestrally, and the other an equally profound Artist and 'stablemate'.

I have often said that the new is because of the old, consequently the old will always be a part of the new; such is the attitude of Mickey Bass, who will tell you without the slightest hesitation or reservation, that it was Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown who were the men to first establish what modern Bass playing was to be about. They were inventors of their time... the new wave as it were. "In those days when I was coming along, you didn't just walk up on the stand and play without having your stuff together, or you would find yourself, both Musically and also socially 'ostracized'. That's the way it was, and it was beautiful because you were being silently instructed that you must play it right, or not at all. You had to learn the Music, learn your Instrument, and learn it right!"    Nowadays everyone wants to be 'cool'. Some of the players, who can't quite master the Music or its' science, make what they think are a lot of 'relative' sounds, and then they call it "free" or "outside" or "space". Quite often, this would appear to be an attempt to disguise their lack of musical knowledge. They listen to "Trane" and Ornette and a few others and then they try to imitate them. When you explain to these same young people, that their idols, such as the above mentioned players, spent many private, agonizing hours toiling over their Music, and their Instruments.....they then have very little to say.

   Mickey Bass is a man who is always doing something or getting ready to do something:
"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 is no future without a past, as far as the Music is concerned".
Mickey Bass is a good man, a good friend and a damn good Bass player. ( liner notes written by Ted Ross )

"I believe in playing it 'straight-ahead', and also in playing the 'changes' says Bass. Rooted in the great traditions set out by Ellington, Parker and Gillespie, Bass has followed his philosophy to a tee with standards like Dukes' "Caravan" and "In A Sentimental Mood" and on the Dietz/Schwartz classic "Alone Together", plus a trio of originals.

Ably supported by Saxophonist Chico Freeman, Trumpeter Oliver Beener, Trombonist Kiani Zawadi, Pianists John Hicks and Mickey Tucker plus Percussionists Michael Carvin and Ray Mantilla, Bass sets down solid channels for the soloists through his steady playing and provocative arrangements.

The well-traveled Bassist has strong credentials; in addition to his own group heard here, Mickey has worked with Jackie McLean, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, Carmen McRae and Billy Eckstine. Except for an outing in his own "Bahama Mama", Bass stays mostly in the background, leaving the limelight for his cohorts.

Among the galvanizing soloists, the dynamic Freeman cuts an especially impressive swath. On Tenor forays in "Alone Together" and "Caravan", he plunges forward with biting tone and Coltrane-like intensity. For "Sentimental Mood" his Soprano soars with rhapsodic lyricism."



“An exceptional Debut Album, for which Bass has assembled a formidable ‘line-up!”
Recommended!” (The All Music Guide)