MARK MOULTRUP "Man of the 00's" Mark Moultrups' second CD release on MMM Inc. features Mark on piano and vocals, Paul Keller (Dianna Krall) on bass, Dave Taylor on drums, and very special guest, Mike Stern (Miles Davis, Blood Sweat & Tears, The Brecker Bros.) on guitar. Trumpeter Walter White, (M. Fergusson, Harry Connick) and tenor sax man Mark Kieme, are heard on the Moultrup composition, "Citizen". bio Mark is a native of Detroit and got his start in jazz studying with Stevie Wonder theory teacher Herbie Williams. He played in Marcus Belgrave’s “New Detroit Jazz Ensemble” which had among its’ members Kenny Garrett and Geri Allen. Mark has shared the stage and or recorded with a diverse array of artists including: Smokie Robinson, Bobby Vinton, Mike Stern, Marcus Belgrave, Eddie Kendricks & David Ruffin, (Temptations), The Diamonds, Ira Sullivan, Eddie Henderson, Leslie Gore, Johnny Trudell, Soupy Sales, Joan Rivers, Keith Washington. Collaborating members of his bands have included: Rodney Whitaker, Kareem Riggins, James Carter, Walter White, Ralphe Armstrong, & Regina Carter "Man of the 00's" highlights the multi-faceted talents of Mark Moultrup. His arrangements of the classics display an exceptional ability to transform the tried and true into something fresh, unique, and personal. His compositions reveal a depth of harmonic knowledge, and an innate understanding of the way the 'band' should sound. As a lyricist, Mark exhibits a natural talent for putting words together, not to mention a sense of humor. His vocals are a testament to many years of singing on professional stages, and to having studied and internalized the craft of singing jazz. Hearing Mark perform, an almost unanimous conclusion is reached by the listener, 'he has his own style'. Following is song synopsis; Daahoud is an up tempo Mark Moultrup arrangement of the Clifford Brown be bop classic which features intuitive trio interplay, and straight ahead blowing. Tension and excitement build from the top as the Afro-Cuban groove is offset by the polyrhythmic pulse of the bass, while the piano's close interval left hand chords and wide interval improvisations create a simmering prologue to the famous be bop line, complimented by intricate background parts and chord substitutions. Then it's solo time, with the band swinging hard, but relaxed, the ideas building from chorus to chorus. The Very Thought of You The classic Ray Noble ballad is here completely transformed for a highly stylized vocal rendition by Moultrup. "I always enjoyed the tune as a ballad, but as I really checked out the lyric, it occurred to me that what it was saying had a sense of urgency and anticipation, and maybe even frustration. Those kinds of thoughts and feelings made me think of doing the tune with a hard swinging 4/4 feel", explains the arranger. "We did this one live on the Ed Love Show, and he commented that he had never heard the tune done like that before". Just Suppose An original composition, and the title track from Marks' first CD here is given a different treatment by adding drums to the very up tempo mix. Also added is the stellar guitar work of Mike Stern. "Before the session, Mike told me to be sure to get him the music ahead of time", says Mark, "so I faxed him the charts in Australia where he was touring, and when we got to the studio, he was ready. He played it down the first take". I Know It's Only Be Bop is not only a tongue-in-cheek response to the Rolling Stones hit of yesteryear, but a tale of the trials and tribulations that often, and, or, inevitably confront the artist who endeavors to sell music to the public. It is also written to emphasize the be bop staple: the ll-V-l chord progression. What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life? This time-honored ballad is completely re-harmonized and set to a double-time feel over a slow tempo. The trio here embodies the true definition of improvisation; spontaneous composition. "Paul does a wonderful job covering some very intricate chord changes without sounding like he's playing tough changes. He sounds melodic", observes Moultrup. "And the rhythmic things Dave is playing provide strong mood enhancement, and supportive momentum". The piano, meanwhile takes the listener on a swirling mood cruise, conjuring images from hip jazz, to sensual classical, and beyond. It's All Right With Me The Cole Porter standard receives the Moultrup approach to arranging with an up tempo call and response, followed by an Afro-Cuban six feel over unison lines from the piano and bass all supporting a similarly phrased vocal line. The tune proceeds with daring vocal phrasing, powerful trio performance, and a captivating vamp to finish. IT"S ALL RIGHT! I Didn't Know About You A memorable, but seldom heard title from the Duke Ellington library, with lyrics by Bob Russell. Marks' distinctive solo piano intro kicks it off. Then it's a romantic ballad from the old school, sung with heart-felt sincerity, played straight down, and capped off with top-drawer bass solo from Paul Keller. Eve of the 15th Latin is the word here, with strong percussion work from Dave Taylor. Mike Stern contributes a line for the intro, then comps with his signature chords, and solos on the Moultrup original. The song finishes with some strong solo work on the piano as the ever-building vamp continues. Let Me Tell You This original features a healthy dose of scat vocal in unison with the piano. The minor blues-type tune starts out down low, and works its' way to slammin' shuffle while making the musical request, 'let me tell you how I feel', followed by the musical question, 'do you feel the way I do?'. Never, Never Land 'Just think of pleasant things, for once you have found your way there, you will never, never grow old'. Just a sampling of the lyric from this instrumental arrangement of the Jule Styne classic from 'Peter Pan'. "To me, the opening and closing sections represent the excitement and exhilaration of life, of the passing of time, and the effect it has on a person", relates the composer. His re-harmonization makes the melody his own, and sets the stage for the trios' symphonic interpretation. The ending vamp escalates to a bombastic frenzy, with plenty of musical envelope stretching. Citizen This is one of Marks' most recently completed compositions. "I woke up at about 4am with this tune in my head" says Mark. "I turned on the recorder and played it down just as it is. Walter White, and Mark Kieme are heard on trumpet and tenor sax. This song is a departure from the straight ahead feel which dominates the rest of the CD. Dave Grusin and the ECM label come to mind as possible indicators of a relateable style. Moultrup says there is a set of lyrics for this tune, which didn't make this pressing. Look for them on a later release.