Rehearsal/Performance Notes for "On the Red Bank'" By David Gibson
“On the Red Bank” is an homage to Count Basie, who was from Red Bank, NJ. There is a theater there in his name.
The piano introduction alludes to Neal Hefti’s famous blues “Splanky”. When the saxes enter at letter A, they should be playing softly like a whisper. In bar 16, the brass is a very sudden loud surprise before the saxes return playing softly. Remember to bring the volume back down again, especially in the rhythm section. This is a typical Basie effect.
Letter B is the bridge and the rhythmic feel is a 12/8 Afro-Latin. The piano and the ride cymbal communicate this feel in their pattern. It’s important that piano and drums are together and everyone should make sure to subdivide eighth note triplets in their mind while playing their parts.
Letter C brings back the sax melody and the swing feel, but it's now at a dynamic of forte. There is a figure in the brass first that is answered by the saxes in which the 16th notes are swung as though playing 8th notes in double-time. It may be helpful to think of it that way.
Letter D is a 16 bar solo section with backgrounds beginning in the 9th bar. Be sure to play them rhythmically crisp while staying under the soloist. The soloist could be alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or piano. There is a written solo available but the chords are also written in case a soloist wishes to improvise.
After the solo section, there is a D.S. back to letter B and you go to the CODA after bar 32.
The CODA begins like letter C. After 8 measures, the dynamic level gets very soft. Make sure to keep feeling the quarter note time even though we get softer. Don't drag!
The piano, bass, and baritone saxophone end the phrase with a classic ending that hands off to the classic “Basie” finish. The last chord should surprise the listener loudly.
リーダーとしてのデビュー作『Maya』(2002年、Nagel Heyer)は、グループの相互作用とオリジナル曲を追求する長い録音キャリアの幕開けとなりました。メンバーの入れ替えを経て、彼は『A Little Somethin’』(2009年、Posi-Tone)で安定した体制を築きます。このアルバムを機に、ジャレッド・ゴールド、クインシー・デイヴィス、ジュリアス・トレンティーノを擁するオルガン・バンドが本格始動しました。「毎月第一金曜日にファット・キャット(Fat Cat)で演奏していました。あのグループで、ようやく自分たちのサウンドができ始めたんです」とギブソンは回想します。彼はこのサウンドを『End of the Tunnel』(2011年)、『Boom!』(2015年)、『Inner Agent』(2016年)と発展させ続け、ジョシュ・エヴァンス、テオ・ヒル、アレックス・クラフィー、クシュ・アバデイと共に、より緊密なクインテットのサウンドを練り上げました。そのアンサンブルは、パンデミック禍にギブソンのマンハッタンの自宅アパートで行われたインフォーマルなジャム・セッションを通じてさらに進化し、デイヴィス・ホイットフィールドとジョセフ・レポーレが新たに加わりました。