jazz piano/vocals: solo, duo, scat original writing - styled standards

14 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, JAZZ: Bebop



Details:
Pianist, vocalist, composer Mark Moultrup announces the release of his first CD, "Just Suppose" on his von Moultrup Music Inc. record label, (ASCAP).

Whether navigating the challenging harmonic contours of a Michel LeGrand composition or
moving at warp speed over one of his own compelling tunes such as "Scree Scramble," Mark
Moultrup is a skilled pianist and stylistic vocalist with an engaging zeal for a variety of soundscapes. At his command is a diverse repertoire of songs, which are often invested with imaginative classical turns and scintillating dollops of bebop.

A hallmark of Moultrup's creativity is his ability to recast a popular standard, giving it an entirely new gloss of tender explosions and nuance. "Stella by Starlight," a mainstay in his portfolio, may bear only a slight resemblance to its original form after Moultrup applies a fresh interpretation, sometimes removing the cloying sentimentality in exchange for a robust, more redemptive rendering.

Moultrup has a palette of changing moods at his disposal. He moves effortlessly from a
funky blues motif to Lisztian modes to Monkish moments with no sacrifice to a tune's basic integrity.

Most intriguing and beguiling are his fabulous pianistic runs, those quickly assembled notes that fall like tinkling icicles on a tin roof. As a performer, he is capable of fashioning light hearted, hilarious instances, particularly when he's singing in a style reminiscent of Bob Dorough, MoseAllison and Mark Murphy, all at once.

No matter the context -ensemble or solo- Moultrup seldom surrenders his distinctive taste and intuitive feel for expressive music. A loving delight emanates when his melodic phrases are paired with a guitarist such as Mike Stern, and he loses none of that luster when standing alone with nothing to support him but his own gifted harmonic sense.

Detroit is known for a roster of talented pianists-Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Kirk Lightsey, Kenn Cox, Geri Allen and Carlos McKinney-and Moultrup has clearly mastered the unique tone, tempo and sensibility so vital to these artists and their creations. Even so, there is his singularity, Moultrup's way of revision, refinement and revelation.

To capture the full import of Moultrup's magic at the keyboards requires more than a few spins of the CD, more than a few nights at a table near him and his ensemble. But these special moments will have to do since we don't have the same life time he's devoted to a passion that he eagerly and splendidly shares with the world.

Herb Boyd


Herb Boyd is an author of numerous books on jazz, and has written articles for Jazz Times, Down beat, and The Village Voice.

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 Belgraveâs âNew Detroit Jazz Ensembleâ
which had among itsâ 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


The 14 song disc features jazz piano and vocals, and includes Dianna Krall bassist Paul Keller on acoustic bass on several tracks.
Recorded at Solid Sound Studio in Ann Arbor, there are six Moultrup compositions, four instrumental and two vocals, which combine influences of be-bop and modern jazz in a refreshingly individual style.

"Waltz", named for it's 3/4 meter, is a classical sounding original in a minor mode, while the title song, "Just Suppose" is an up-tempo, nearly-out jazz stomper.. "When Again" is a moving ballad with emotional as well as dynamic peaks and valleys. In the composers' words, "Scree Scramble" is his impressions of mountain climbing in the Rockies on the loose rock past the tree line known as "scree".

The vocal original "Unconditional Love" takes a humorous look at what the composer appears to feel is an ambiguous concept at best, while the vocal "Let Me Tell You" is a bluesy/jazz invitation to romance.

The remaining tracks draw from the standard jazz repertoire, and showcase one of Moultrups' true strengths: versatility. First up is a creative scat rendition of Gershwins' "Love Is Here To Stay", a very swinging duo performance of "Takin A Chance On Love",... a classic sounding "Summer Knows",... a modern bop solo of "Alone Together",... a personal vocal stamp on the timeless "My Foolish Heart",... a boogie-woogie treatment of "Just In Time",... a compelling arrangement of an old classic "Take 5",... and a uniquely styled "Stella By Starlight".

Mark has performed extensively in the Detroit area at establishments including Bakers Keyboard lounge, the Bird of Paradise, The Rhinoceros, The Fox Theater, The Whitney, as well as venues in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Canada. He has appeared with Marcus Belgrave, Doug Hammond, Sheila Jordan, the original Temptations, Keith Washington, in addition to apperances at The Montreaux-Detroit Jazz Festival, and his own United Cable television show which won the Entertainment Program of the Year Award.