Mark Carlsen | New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Dave Whitney Trio with Gray Sargent

The Dave Whitney Trio kicked off 2016 at Bullfinch’s Jazz Brunch for the 22^nd consecutive year with swinging ensembles and brilliant solos. It was standing room only, demonstrating the respect and affection that musicians and fans have for Dave Whitney. He is known as New England’s Dean of Jazz, usually on trumpet, but today leading with melody and harmony on cornet.

Dave Whitney cornet, Jon Wheatley guitar, Mark Carlsen bass, and special guests Gray Sargent guitar, Jim Porcella and Mollie Malone vocals. What a fantastic way to start the New Year!

The Brunch began unusually early, at 10am, with just a few customers straggling in, but that soon changed. The Trio began with a soft Moonglow; folks relaxing after a hectic New Year’s Eve.

Jon Wheatley

These Foolish Things, featured Jon’s sweet and sultry guitar with bass backup, and Dave sounding like Bunny Berigan.

Dave sang several tunes, connecting with the mood of each song: Irving Berlin’s Blue Skies, The Gypsy, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? and more.

He added a Latin beat with Jobim’s Bossa Nova, Triste. ( Meaning sad)
By now the tables were filled. They picked up the pace with a ‘good ol’ good one’, Found a New Baby with Mark cleverly slapping the bass.

Folks were getting reacquainted, (lots of talking). Gray Sargent was here with his wife Pam and brother John; Betty Weaver and Paul DeMille have been present at these New Year’s Brunches since they started over 20 years ago. There were many musicians in the room whose names we don’t know. Jim Porcella, Peter Gerler, Mollie Malone were in the audience. A Sticky Wicket ‘regular’, Ruth Schwab arrived with Joe Grasia.

Mark Carlsen bowing string bass

You Took Advantage of Me. Mark was bowing the string bass.
His rhythm moves!

The band took a well deserved break – this is a four-hour program.

Dave Whitney

They returned for a special request, a tune done by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong, You’re Sensational.
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To.

Dave played riveting cornet on Clyde McCoy’s Sugar Blues.

This band Swings from start to finish! They moved upbeat with Back Home Again in Indiana. Dave took the vocal on The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else, giving Mark a crowd pleasing string bass solo.

Tin Roof Blues, is always a favorite, with captivating cornet and guitar, Mark walking and bowing the bass.

Mollie Malone

Dave introduced Mollie Malone. Mollie sings in Billie Holiday style with I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, and a sweet I’ve Got a Crush On You.

Jim Porcella

Bombay Jim Porcella of the Swinging Saphires and Swinging Tenors was here. He was called up with It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (of course!) and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

Special treat was seeing and hearing Gray Sargent again! He once had his own Trio – now he and Marshall Wood are backing Tony Bennett all over the world.

Gray Sargent

Gray joined the Trio, thrilling the crowd with sheer joy and mastery on 9:20 Special by Count Basie, and Isn’t It Romantic?

The musical highlight of this afternoon was a breathtaking Lady Be Good, with two virtuoso guitars, Gray Sargent and Jon Wheatley playing together with real camaraderie and classic musicianship. The Quartet closed this four-hour afternoon with heartfelt, hot music.

Jon and Gray on guitar, with Dave and Mark

Jon Wheatley and Gray Sargent play Lady Be Good

This was a Joyful Affair from beginning to end, with many surprises! We’re looking forward to hearing the Dave Whitney Trio at another Bullfinch Jazz Brunch in the near future. We’ll keep an eye out for Gray Sargent and Tony Bennett.

We definitely plan on being here again next year celebrating New Year’s Day 2017 at Bullfinch’s Jazz Brunch, and for many years to come!

Marce

Dave Whitney Quintet with special guest Christine Fawson

The Amazing Things Arts Center is the best place to listen, and really hear, two master trumpeters; marvelous acoustics. It just doesn’t get any better than this, Christine Fawson and Dave Whitney, twining around each other on trumpet or vocals – they have synergy, supported by the fine rhythm section of Jon Wheatly guitar, Mark Carlsen bass, and Reid Jorgenson drums. Dave and Christine never sounded better! What a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!

New England’s Dean of Trumpeters, Dave started first, backed by the rhythm section, on a Rose Room, circa forties’ era Jazz and Swing tune. He focused on Louis Armstrong, singing an early 1932 Louis’ That’s My Home. Down In Honky Tonk Town Louis recorded in 1940.

Jon Wheatley on acoustic guitar

Louisiana featured Jon with special vamps on ‘agnostic’ guitar.
Besides being a Talented soloist, Jon is a great team player laying down beautiful chords and keeping solid time.
He has a great capacity of repertoire, being comfortable in everything from Dixieland to modern jazz. He has listened to many great guitarists: Eddie Lang, George Barnes, Barney Kessell and Herb Ellis to name a few but has his own personal style.

Christine lets it all out

Dave introduced the talented Christine Fawson singing an upbeat Irving Berlin tune on this dreary, rainy day, Blue Skies.

Christine added some of Ella’s inventive scat-singing on Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me, with Dave behind her on muted trumpet. Their passion for this music is infectious.

Reid Jorgensen’s plays soft drum with his hands

Charlie Chaplin’s favorite, Smile is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music; he would have loved Christine’s vocal, backed by Reid playing softly with just his hands, on the drums.

This is Christine’s theme song – Don’t Fence Me In. She likes Cole Porter’s lyrics and chord changes “They don’t write like this today.” Celestial trumpets played sweet harmonious sounds, Dave taking the melody first, Christine counterpoint.

Dave and Christine in sync on trumpet

We all know Tangerine from Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream album; fabulous, with Reid’s drum tapping on snare drum.

Mark Carlsen

Mark has a history of playing with the new Tommy Dorsey Band led by Buddy Morrow. He is also a great team player, laying down beautiful chords and keeping solid time. He’s an excellent soloist, but prefers to take only one or two choruses on a tune, instead giving the group great bass lines and working flawlessly with Jon and Reid.

Here he is backing Dave’s vocal on Irving Berlin’s Marie.

Christine was back with a smokin’ Avalon – from her CD. Glorious trumpet duet, with Chris and Dave taking turns singing.

Christine took a break. Dave returned with the rhythm section. He latched on to Putting All My Eggs In One Basket from Cape Cod’s cornetist Ruby Braff. I Can’t Get Started, from Mister Trumpet – 1937 Bunny Berigan, the tune that put him on the map. Dense interplay between trumpet and guitar.

Dave and Reid have been together for many years, in Dave’s Big Band and small combos. Reid’s brushwork is weighty, but particulate – he listens. He was featured on a good ol’ good one, Found a New Baby.

Reid Jorgenson

Jon Wheatley, solo, on Slow Burning

Jon’s flowing finger work and sounds were featured on his solo of George M Smith’s Slow Burning.

Dave called Christine back. Reid’s drumming softly complemented Christine’s soulful scatting on I Could Write A Book.

She put heart and soul on In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning, revealing her own singular, personal style. Video by Harold McAleer.

Louis did this one with Velma Middleton, You’re Just In Love. Dave and Chris played trumpets in harmonic syncopation, then sang totally different choruses from the tune – at the same time.

Christine teaches at the Berklee College of Music and also sings with the vocal jazz group, Syncopation. She said she’s learned so much from watching and listening to Dave play. Obviously.

They closed with the Trad Jazz “National Anthem”, The Saints. It was a warm, friendly afternoon of fine Jazz and Swing; it was a real pleasure being here and listening to these virtuoso musicians!

We never know when they will get together again, but you can bet it will be on the www.nejazz.com calendar!

Marce

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Mark Carlsen

Dave Whitney Trio at Bullfinch’s 2016 New Year Jazz Brunch

Dave Whitney Quintet, featuring Christine Fawson, at Amazing Things Arts Center, October 6, 2013