Mark Cherrie Quartet (Album Launch)
A highly regarded performer on Steel Pan (as well as piano), Mark Cherrie is a vastly experienced musician who has developed a unique voice on an instrument that is still a rarity in jazz. Mark himself is steeped in the Steel Pan tradition: his father, the bass/steel pan player Ralph Cherrie was one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival and Mark cut his “jazz teeth” at the Club “sitting in” with the great Trinidadian pianist/pan player Russ Henderson.
Tonight Mark will be launching his latest album, “Any Anxious Colour”. As Mark describes it: “With this album I wanted to reflect some of the musical heritage that the steel pan is associated with, so there is a nod to Afro/Cuban as well as Calypso music. The fact that the other musicians have a background playing jazz means that the musical approach is still firmly in the jazz tradition, but with the steel pan leading”. Appearing with Mark this evening will be John Donaldson-piano, Tom Mason-bass & Eric Ford-drums and watch out for Special Guests: Dave O'Higgins-sax, Fergus Gerrand-percussion & Chantelle Duncan-vocals.
“As a successful pianist and composer Mark Cherrie has nothing to prove. Neither is there any doubt about his mastery of the steel pan” Guardian; “Cherrie has the clarity of phrase and articulation to suit the setting of an acoustic quartet” Jazzwise