Alan Barnes parties like it’s 1959

From July 2019. Fêted UK saxophonist and clarinettist Alan Barnes celebrates his 60th birthday by releasing a themed 1959 album. Eleven classic compositions from 1959 arranged by trombonist Mark Nightingale are included, compositions by Duke …

Published: 13 Nov 2019. Updated: 3 years.

From July 2019. Fêted UK saxophonist and clarinettist Alan Barnes celebrates his 60th birthday by releasing a themed 1959 album. Eleven classic compositions from 1959 arranged by trombonist Mark Nightingale are included, compositions by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Horace Silver and Gerry Mulligan among others.

On the record Barnes (alto and baritone saxophones, clarinet and bass clarinet) is joined by Pat White (trumpet), James Copus (trumpet and flugelhorn), Mark Nightingale, Gordon Campbell (trombone), Howard McGill (alto saxophone and clarinet), Robert Fowler (tenor saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet), Andy Panayi (tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet), Mick Foster (baritone saxophone and bass clarinet), Robin Aspland (piano), Sam Burgess (bass) and Matt Skelton (drums).

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The Steve Fishwick/Osian Roberts/Frank Basile Sextet, In the Empire State, Hard Bop Records

From 2015. Recorded in New Jersey last year after a string of New York club dates, this Anglo-American affair – with trumpeter Steve Fishwick, tenorist Osian Roberts, baritone player Frank Basile, pianist Jeb Paton, bassist Mike Karn and drummer …

Published: 13 Nov 2019. Updated: 4 years.

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From 2015. Recorded in New Jersey last year after a string of New York club dates, this Anglo-American affair – with trumpeter Steve Fishwick, tenorist Osian Roberts, baritone player Frank Basile, pianist Jeb Paton, bassist Mike Karn and drummer Matt Fishwick – is a bustling hard bop affair with gutsy horn playing and lively drumming. Like latter-day Jazz Messengers, the album opens with Fishwick original ‘Jymie’ (dedicated to former Messenger Jymie Merritt) and includes originals by the three co-leaders and a sprinkling of standards including a Fishwick arrangement of ‘How Deep is the Ocean.’

There’s a strong retro feeling here and a love and passion for the jazz of the 1950s and 60s steeped above all in the Blakey tradition.

It won’t change the world, but there’s plenty here to appeal to hard bop fans, the authenticity and respect for the style first and foremost in all these swinging players’ minds. SG