Mel Brown Septet Alan Jones Sextet
Drums Mel Brown Alan Jones
Piano Gordon Lee Darrell Grant
Bass Andre St James Tom Wakelin
Alto Sax John Nastos Warren Rand
Tenor Sax Renato Corranto John Brooks
Trumpet Derek Sims Paul Mazzio
Trombone Stan Bock na
This "Battle of the Bands" was advertised as part of Jimmy Mak's 15th year anniversary. It is a weeklong celebration of a club that is achieving iconic status in our town. This wasn't as much a battle as a showcase for two groups of excellent musicians.
Mel started the show with a crisp 45 min set. Alan's band then took the stage and responded in kind. Just straight, hard sextet/septet arrangements (as Alan said, there aren't many places where you can hear more than a trio).
The fun really started when all members took the stage; solos by both players of each instrument with Alan doubling as drummer and traffic cop. Mel and Alan closed the set with solos that went back and forth; Mel setting the pace with his cool efficiency and Alan attacking his kit with everything he had. At one point, my friend Steve Goebel looked across the table at me and wondered if he was hearing the best music he had ever experienced. I think this question arises often at Jimmy Maks!
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| JD telling us how this is gonna work |
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| Mel - in a word, "cool" |
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| Alan working hard |
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| Look at the talent on this stage; a $15 cover, are you kidding me? |
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