A Train - Stan Mark Big Band

Stan Mark Big Band at the 4 Queens hotel in Las Vegas 1995.
Yes, that is Stan Mark, who played lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson from 1974-1982.
This band was put together in Las Vegas during the middle 1990s, a very discouraging time for live musicians in Vegas. Things had changed and cats who were part of the greatest live music performance situation that ever existed on planet Earth were out of work and out of hope. This is just one small moment in time were cats came together for a live big band show in a Vegas lounge, which was something of the past.

I dont have the entire personnel list ready, but I will get it up soon. Joe Riggs is lead alto; he was with Harry James for a long time. Mike Bisner on piano was with Kenton but spent most of his career with the Four Freshmen, where he sang, played piano and trumpet. Ray Price on drums recorded with Oscar Peterson. Mario Pino on lead trumpet played lead on the Phil Woods big band. I just happend to be playing lead on this chart because Mario is a nice guy.

And, here is a great tidbit for sounding good as a split lead player (although Stan always said there was no split lead, there was just lead;) when the lead player passes you a lead chart and then plays great section trumpet that makes you sound good, keep doing what your doing because its working and remember to say thanks. In other words, it takes all parts in a section to make the section and the lead player sound good. When a lead player passes a chart, it is often to keep other members of the section happy and interested rather than an attempt to get a rest period. And, while sometimes a lead player will pass a chart in order to reduce some of the load, the lead players who pass the chart and then play the section part with full intent and full support are the cats who sound great on lead and then make the split lead player sound great thereby contributing consistently to the success of the section, the success of the band and the overall success of the musical performance.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Stan
• Mark
• Big
• Band
• Train
• Richard
• Little
• Lead
• Trumpet
• Vegas
• Live
• Music

[PINCHUNO]

NOt good.

[envstudent]

Your expert commentary reveals much.

This is posted so that those few who know enough to search can find some of the rare clips that demonstrate what capacities existed in live big band performance throughout the history of Vegas. If you do not like it, that is your purview. To make a qualitative assessment based on your demonstrated aptitude for analysis might be a bit presumptuous. But then again, thanks for checkin it out and I hope you find stuff you like. How about that lead trumpet....

[PINCHUNO]

I'm a professional trumpet player and music graduate with over 20 years experience. I've heard and seen much better examples of Stan Mark playing. His "dixieland" style solo, doesn't really fit in this arrangement. A more bopish aproach would have been better or a different arrangement. Why try to emulate Maynard's version and not do a good job? You're always going to get flamed when things don't work. Don't make any presumptions on my analytical or musical aptitudes either. Thank you.

[envstudent]

Cool, nicely stated. So what do you think about that lead trumpet, and how about that band?

[PINCHUNO]

The band and lead trumpet do a great job! It sounds really good.

That's why Stan's performance (taking into account his great track record) stuck out as "not so good!"

[envstudent]

Very interesting analysis, I did not think about it like that. I believe you raise some valid points.

Should the video be removed because it depicts Stan in a less than favorable light with respect to the rest of his career, or should it remain as an example of the big band playing that still existed in Vegas at that time and a band that Stan Mark put together and led?

[cernuto]

Trombones are Sam Cernuto on lead, Ron Textor, Alan Imbach soloing and Barry Hamilfarb on bass trombone,

[valleymusiccenter]

Love Stan Mark.....got to see and meet him in Sacramento at Trad Jazz Fest....in 2001?

[PINCHUNO]

@bradleythekid That may be the case, but there are no rigid rules as to how "split lead" is organised. It's basically 2 lead players sharing the lead book.

[bradleythekid]

Split lead doesn't mean someone who is playing the lead with the lead trumpet or someone who is taking stuff from the lead trumpet. Split Lead means Lead Part doubled down an octave or playing the stuff that is lead but not screaming giving the Lead guy time to rest. In Bob Curnow's LA Band recordings Wayne Bergeron will take the lead and Bobby Shew will take the Split Lead. I've seen actual Split Lead parts (usually in an optional 5th trumpet part)... FYI

[prestonmace]

That's why Stan played with Maynard for ten years you haters. Funny Stan is a well renowned musician and has down countless things with his life and all you losers can do is hate. Your super cool!

[bastatulant]

He came to my high school once. Brought a black trumpet to jazz band practice. He put his head down, placed the lips to the mouthpiece, and produced a sound we will all never, ever forget.

Ever.

[B17MIKE]

Thanks for posting!