ROGER MARKS' ARMADA JAZZ BANDs
Celebrating 25 Years

Vol 1
Go To New Orleans !

 

LF9690

	TRACKS
1	Algiers Strut	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
2	The Old Spinning Wheel	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
3	Happy Days And Lonely Nights	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
4	Home	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
5	Minnie The Mermaid	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
6	Painting The Clouds With Sunshine	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
7	Tell Me Your Dream	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
8	Oriental Man	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
9	Blame It On The Blues	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
10	Whose Honey are You	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
11	Estrellita	ROGER MARKS AND PETE SUMNER
12	Dark Eyes	ROGER MARKS AND PETE SUMNER
13	Go To New Orleans	ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND
14	On The Sunny Side Of The Street	ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND

Vol 2
House Of The Rising Sun

 

LF9691

	TRACKS
1	My Memphis Baby	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
2	After The Ball Was Over	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
3	Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
4	Sweet Lorraine	ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
5	Candy Lips	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
6	When Your Hair Has Turned To Silver	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
7	Second Line	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
8	My Gal Sal	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
9	House Of The Rising Sun	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
10	I'm Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now	ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
11	Bring Me Sunshine	ROGER MARKS AND PETE SUMNER
12	Maryland, My Maryland	ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND
13	Yacht Club Swing	ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND
14	When You're Smiling	ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND

Musicians

ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
Roger Marks	Trombone
Graham Trevarton	Trumpet, Cornet, Vocals
Gordon Stafford	Clarinet
Malcolm Hurrel	Banjo
Adrian Davis	Sousaphone
Andrew 'Ray' Marks	Drums
ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
Roger Marks	Trombone
Graham Trevarton	Trumpet, Cornet, Vocals
John Wurr	Clarinet, Alto Sax
'Eddie' Edwards	Banjo
Terry Turland	Bass Guitar
Jim Newton	Drums
ROGER MARKS AND PETE SUMNER
Trombone and Banjo respectively
ROGER MARKS ARMADA JAZZ BAND
Roger Marks	Trombone
John Shillito	Trumpet, Vocals
Ken Rennison	Soprano, Alto Saxes
'Eddie' Edwards	Banjo
Terry Turland	Bass Guitar
Terry Lidiard	Drums

 

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Leading a seriously good jazz band is an enormous privilege. The rewards far outweigh the challenges and the buzz of excitement during performance and sense of pride afterwards can be both uplifting and deeply satisfying.

There are, though, responsibilities associated with being the bandleader that are more mundane: long distance bus driver, booking agent, electrician, marketing manager, sound engineer, record producer, wardrobe, navigator, marriage guidance counsellor and loan shark! The good bit is that you get to call the tune and dictate the musical ethos of the band.

In the 25 years since forming the Armada the musical philosophy has always been to draw from all sources but to create original jazz whilst remaining within the idiom, 'free from constraint or taboo'. In other words to listen, understand and absorb from the great and the good but never to imitate; to look for original or fresh interpretation; to create something new using traditional ingredients.

These days we operate in a shrinking market place and musicians increasingly feel that they have to accept work from where so ever it is offered in order to make a living. This necessitates that band leaders in turn tend to use a pool of musicians. The Armada is, sadly, no different nowadays, and, as a result of this squeeze a family of related band line-ups has taken shape.

Thus we have the original core band, Roger Marks' Armada Jazz Band, the New Orleans Armada and the Cornish Armada featuring between them many of the finest traditional jazz musicians in the country. This recording includes too, for the sake of completeness, 'super-sub' Pete Sumner on the banjo (thus the trombone / banjo speciality).

To summarize, these CDs commemorate our Silver Jubilee and feature the various line-ups currently operating - a kind of 'catch-all' conglomeration of all the talents.

Enjoy!
Roger Marks, 24.12.08

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ROGER MARKS' ARMADA JAZZ BANDs
Celebrating 25 Years

Vol 1 - Go To New Orleans! - LF9690

Vol 2 - House Of The Rising Sun - LF9691

ROGER MARKS CORNISH ARMADA
Recorded at The Brunel, Saltash, Cornwall, 23rd November 2008 courtesy of Tony Perry

ROGER MARKS NEW ORLEANS ARMADA
Recorded at Seven Stars Inn, Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, 1st December 2008 courtesy of Rick Smith.

ROGER MARKS AND PETE SUMNER
Recorded at Acorns Studio, Yelverton, 16th December 2008.

ROGER MARKS' ARMADA JAZZ BAND
Recorded at the Odd Wheel, Wembury, 2nd October, courtesy of Alan and Nada Gordon.

Recorded and Mastered by David Baker.
Mixed by David Baker and Roger Marks.
Produced by Roger Marks 01822 859221.
Graphic Design by Laura Yabsley of Disc Manufacturing Services.

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