Home » Jazz Musicians » Mart Avant's Night Flight Big Band

Mart Avant's Night Flight Big Band

MART AVANT'S NIGHT FLIGHT BIG BAND (shown above in session at CBS Recording for the CD, "Superblue," featuring Eric Essix). "Superblue" CD is available at CDBaby.com

This powerhouse ensemble has appeared at Ona's Music Room in Birmingham, Alabama (www.onasmusicroom.com) on most every 1st and 3rd wednesday night for the past 6 years. In this period of time, the Night Flight Big Band has played host to numerous guest artists, including saxophonist Lou Marini Jr, vibraphonist Chuck Redd, and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.

Mart Avant, the founder and director of the Night Flight Big Band, is also a founding member and primary contractor for The Tuscaloosa Horns (www.tuscaloosahorns.com), one of the nation's finest horn sections. Follow the link to the right for more about this group.

The Night Flight Big Band recently completed the tracking for a new CD release, produced by Ray Reach, featuring guitarist Eric Essix as guest soloist, with a brief appearance by Lou Marini, Jr. The CD was recorded at CBS Recording in Centerpoint, Alabama. (See links to the right of this column for further information about this project.)

LINER NOTES

Anyone trying to categorize or “pigeon hole” this CD will have a rough time, mainly because the featured artist‘s style is so hard to categorize. When I listen to Eric play, I hear a wealth of stylistic diversity, reflecting influences ranging from B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman and T-Bone Walker to Charlie Christian, Kenny Burrell, George Benson and (Eric’s personal idol) Wes Montgomery. So, this album is such a “mixed bag,” I am told, that “… It’ll be hard to market.” (typical words from most major label A & R persons). But how do you tell an artist so eclectic as Eric Essix “You can’t do that”?

In fact, telling Eric not to play in such a broad ranging eclectic style would go against my very philosophy as a producer. I say, “Let the artist choose their direction and stay out of his (or her) way.” Further, it is my belief that an experienced artist usually knows far better than most producers where their musical heart lies.

So that’s what I tried to do - stay out of the way. Quite often, when we finished recording a take, Eric would ask, “Was that O K?” (in his typical self effacing fashion). To which I’d reply, “Is that O K with YOU?” Eric would answer in a mild-mannered tone, “I guess so.” And so each recorded take went down.

Read more

Tags

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.