 
THE ARTISTS: very few musicians who have assimilated swing, bop, post bop, progressive, and cool genres into a unique style. Perhaps justifying its name, Savant provides Wyands’ American label debut as a leader.
KUNI MIKAMI, who was featured with Lionel Hampton for ten years, is a cultural leader in the Asian American community, had his own big band for years, and is a gifted composer, arranger, teacher and pianist.
M. FERGHU, a second generation musician who is one of the best of the younger pianists, is now playing with the Stein brothers.
BASSIST: RON MCCLURE- a Connecticut Yankee, he went to Hart School of Music and studied classical bass with Joseph Iadone, and had his first jazz band when he was 15. He was the protégé of the great Wynton Kelly, a favorite of Paul Chambers, and has since played with Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Keith Jarrett, Don Friedman, Richie Bierich, Charles Lloyd, and many other stars. Mr. McClure is one of the leading jazz bassists, a well known composer-arranger. Mr. McClure served as a judge at the Thelonious Monk Bass Competition along with Walter Booker.
DRUMS: JIMMY MADISON has been a pro-fessional since the age of twelve. Jimmy Madison left his native Cincinnati to join Miami trumpeter Don Goldie at age 19 and was quickly hired by Lionel Hampton after a gig at New York’s world-famous Metropole. Madison has worked with such diverse musical stylists as Marian McPartland, Bobby Hackett, James Brown, Gerry Mulligan, Nina Simone, Al Cohn, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Joe Farrell, George Benson, Richie Havens, Stan Getz, Hubert Laws, Lee Konitz, Anita O’Day, Art Farmer, Ray Baretto, Shirley MacLaine, Maceo Parker, Ron Carter, The Joffrey Ballet, Chet Baker, John Lewis, Dave Matthews and Red Rodney in addition to leading and co-leading his own groups.
TRUMPET: JON MARK MCGOWAN is from Oak-land and is a second generation trumpeter, one of the most brilliant of his generation, who has worked with Barry Harris, David Murray, Lionel Hampton, the Ellington Band, Mulhal Richard Abrams, Harold Vick, Rodney Kendricks, and many well known musicians in the tristate area. He also writes and arranges his own distinctive songs.
WILLIAM FIELDER is a trumpeter who is well versed in classical and jazz. He worked with Slide Hampton, Barry Harris, and has taught at Rutgers for many years. Dr. Fielder is a gifted composer and arranger. Well known as a teacher, he possesses a virtuoso technique and is considered a living legend.
TROMBONE: CLARENCE BANKS, one of the best jazz trombonists, has been with the Count Basie Orchestra for many years. He also performed with Nancie Banks’ Orchestra, with the Ellington Band, and freelances around the tristate area when he is not travelling the world with the Basie band." |
New Album "A Different World" 1. "A DIFFERENT WORLD" is the title song in the new cd. We are all citizens of the world, and as Bob Marley pointed out, we only have "One World." This song was arranged by Richard Wyands, Mark McGowan and Masuo, and composed by Mark and me. 2. "GET OUT OF TOWN" is by Cole Porter. 3. "SOME OTHER SPRING" is one of the favorite ballads of many musicians. It has a subtle ambience to it, like the sadness of spring when one is lonely. Clarence Banks wrote a gorgeous arrangement. 4. "WHISPER NOT" is one of the classic jazz tunes by Benny Golson, a superstar. It is so hip-I just tried not to mess it up. Again, Richard and Mark do superb solos. 5. "YESTERDAYS" by Jerome Kern is a perfect song. Kern was a great composer. Richard Wyands did the arrangement. Dr. Fielder’s trumpet is so beautiful it really makes this take work. He is a miracle worker. 6. "TOMORROW" by Lonnie Hillyer – he wrote the lyrics and the music for this new standard. Too bad he died so young. Lonnie’s style was so original, all the musicians loved playing this tune. I hope many more cop the changes on it and add it to their repertoire. 7. "BURGUNDY" by Barry Harris. Dr. Harris is a famous piano player, but many people don’t know him as a composer. The changes on this tune are so brilliant they are like the cut of a designer dress. There is a lovely arco intro by Ron McClure. 8. "EXCUSE ME MR." This is a blues by Mark McGowan, who met a homeless woman on the subway who told him her story. It reminds me of Katrina, and the need for us to take care of business. There is a groovy trading of fours between Mark and Clarence and arrangement touches by Masuo that make everything click in place. 9. "ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE & PRINCE ALBERT." I was in a vocal group that didn’t take off called Yardbird Suite, and I wrote the words for Prince Albert so we could have an arrangement on All the Things You Are. Dr. Fielder plays a tasty solo as well as the gifted pianist M. Ferghu, who also devised a witty new intro for the popular jazz standard. Kenny Dorham’s tune is just as beautiful in its own way. I hope this new lyric makes Prince Albert more accessible to singers. 10. "WAVES OF PEACE" is a cool minor blues by my friend the late Nancie Banks. It’s melody is deceptively simple. Her lyrics show what a spiritual person she was. Clarence wrote a great arrangement, played a perfect solo, and then Richard showed his deep range as a player with his solo. 11. "QUASIMODO" I have loved Charlie Parker since I was a toddler and my dad used to play his songs. In fact, my dad gave out leaflets at the Open Door so he could get in free to hear Bird.
12. "IF I SHOULD LOSE YOU" is by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger. I heard about this
song from Barry Harris, who pointed out the use 13. "LOVER
COME BACK" is by Sigmund Romberg, and one of my favorite standards. Mark McGowan
does a snappy solo here, and Richard Wyands has a certain sound that is 14. "LOVE’S GRACE FOREVER" by Joe Lee Wilson and Kirk Lightsey. Joe Lee said that this song was inspired by 9/11. The modern tone and spiritual calm of this song expresses its theme, how love endures through tragedy. Kuni Mikami provides a brilliant and jewel-like setting in this duo.
15. "BRIGHT MOMENTS" by Rhasaan Roland Kirk is a classic jazz tune with the
shimmering brilliance of Rhasaan’s spirit. The rhythm section really swings on
this tune and it is
Liner Notes by LH:
|
|
|
|
||