IRVIN’S LINER NOTES t’s not often that you’ll find a musician writing his own THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ PLAYHOUSE REVUE liner notes for a recording session. But after several decades of purchasing and borrowing music, I’ve Septet/core band: Guest musicians: always found myself wanting to know more of the t’s not often that you’ll find a storymusician behind thewriting song: whyhis and when musiciansThe occasion have was the “Love Sessions,” anIrvin annual Mayfield weeklong – Trumpet Jamison Ross – Vocals own liner notes for a recordingwritten, arranged, session. and But performed after the music I listenevent to, notwhich to culminates on the anniversaryI’m just of a Hurricanehomegrown boy from New Orleans who loves to tell mention what it means to them. It’s one thing to read an stories with my art. Michael Watson – Vocals and Trombone several decades of purchasingobjective descriptionand borrowing from a trusted voice in the Katrina,music world; August 29th. Every year, a tremendous outpouring of music, I’ve always foundit’s myself quite another wanting to learn to about know the music straighttalent from theand love erupts in the Playhouse,Vince and Gardnerwe give – away Trombone one Davell Crawford – Vocals more of the story behindhorse’s the mouth,song: sowhy to speak. and when hundred percent of the ticket sales revenueVince isto a trombonedifferent player non- extraordinaire who lives in Harlem, 2 The seven CDs included with this book were recorded live but was born in the windy city of Chicago. No one plays more Sasha Masakowski – Vocals 3 musicians have written,and arranged, onstage over and nine performed consecutive days at my club,profit Irvin organizations. Over the last six years,comprehensive the “Love trombone Sessions” than Vince. the music I listen to, notMayfield’s to mention Jazz Playhouse.what it The core band consistedhave of generated a septet over half a million dollars for charities as diverse Gerald French – Drums and Vocals means to them. It’s oneof thing musicians, to read all of anwhom objective I respect and love equallyas mental as artists health, children’s health care,Adonis literacy, Rose homelessness, – Drums and friends. We’ve worked together for many years now, Born in New Orleans’ historic African-American Sixth Ward, Shannon Powell – Drums and Vocals description from a trusted voice in the music world; and music lessons. The “Love Sessions” were started as a means journeying across the wide landscape of Jazz and several other also known as Treme, Adonis is the greatest drummer of his it’s quite another to learngenres. about Joining the this music revue werestraight special guests fromof near helping and far the local community to heal,generation and they in Newhave Orleans. continued George Porter, Jr. – Electric Bass and Vocals from the horse’s mouth,who so performedto speak. with us every night. in this vein. For New Orleans—and its narrative—is continually The occasion was the “Love Sessions,” an annual evolving. Peter Harris – Bass James Rivers – Tenor Saxophone weeklong event which culminates on the anniversary of Peter Harris is a musician’s musician. His playing is extremely This music was recorded live andHurricane onstage Katrina, over nine August 29th. Every year, a tremendous flexible and diverse. There are few bass players who can make Don Vappie – Banjo consecutive days at my club, Irvinoutpouring Mayfield’s of talent Jazz and Playhouse.love erupts in the Playhouse,These andsongs we were performed as folks sang,the acoustic danced, bass fitlaughed, on so many different styles. Peter is one of The core band consisted of a septetgive ofaway musicians, one hundred all percent of of the ticket salespartied, revenue andto cried—all for charity. Anda you handful. can feel their Leon Brown – Trumpet different non-profit organizations. Over the last six years, the whom I respect and love equally “Loveas artists Sessions” and have friends. generated We’ve over half a millionpassion dollars in for these recordings. You’ll also Jasonfeel the Marshall energy – Baritone of the Saxophone Steve Masakowski – Guitar worked together for many yearscharities now, journeying as diverse as mental across health, the children’s Playhousehealth care, Revue. I chose this structureA because true New Yorker,I wanted I first to met Jason while he was working with wide landscape of Jazz and severalliteracy, other homelessness, genres. andJoining music lessons.this The “Loverecreate Sessions” the same spirit that pulsates throughouttrumpeter Roy the Hargrove. Playhouse He makes the baritone speak with Ronald Markham – Piano were started as a means of helping the local community clarity and honesty. His touch on any recording is undeniable. revue were special guests from nearto heal, and and far they who have performedcontinued in this vein. Foron New any given Wednesday night, when I normally take the stage with us every night. Orleans—and its narrative—is continually evolving.with the core band and a surprise guest.Derek The Douget only thing – Tenor weand Soprano Saxophones The songs selected for these CDs were performedcouldn’t as folks capture with this box set was theBorn visual in the smalldimension country town of of Gonzales, Louisiana, which sang, danced, laughed, partied, and cried—all for charity. is located about sixty miles northwest of New Orleans, Derek is the midnight burlesque led by Trixie Minx every Friday night. And you can feel their passion in these recordings. You’ll also the best saxophone player of his generation in New Orleans. feel the energy of the Playhouse Revue. I chose (You’llthis structure just have to come to the club and see that for yourself !) because I wanted to recreate the same spirit thatThirty-three pulsates diverse songs grace this collectionJohn Chin of– Piano music, and I throughout the Playhouse on any given Wednesday night, am proud of every single note. John Chin, born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Los Angeles, has when I normally take the stage with the core band and a surprise been a fixture on the New York Jazz scene since the late 1990s. guest. The only thing we couldn’t capture with this box set was John’s touch on the piano is a dying art form. the visual dimension of the midnight burlesque led by Trixie Minx every Friday night. (You’ll just have to come to the club The Audience – Handclaps, Cheers, Screams, and Hollers and see that for yourself!) Thirty-three diverse songs grace this Every night, over nine days, a mostly local group of about 120 collection of music, and I am proud of every single note. folks came together and brought out the very best of the musicians. A New Orleans audience is the best audience in the world for Jazz. Local folks dance, sing, cry, scream, and party to a soundtrack that other people respond to quietly—and, typically, while seated. The aforementioned group of musicians is a Jazz dream team. These seven CDs capture how my generation speaks through music. Jazz and love, we believe, are analogous. Just listen and you, too, will believe. There is two kinds of music: the good and the bad. I play the good kind. —Louis Armstrong IRVIN’S LINER NOTES t’s not often that you’ll find a musician writing his own THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ PLAYHOUSE REVUE liner notes for a recording session. But after several decades of purchasing and borrowing music, I’ve Septet/core band: Guest musicians: always found myself wanting to know more of the story behind the song: why and when musicians have Irvin Mayfield – Trumpet Jamison Ross – Vocals written, arranged, and performed the music I listen to, not to I’m just a homegrown boy from New Orleans who loves to tell mention what it means to them. It’s one thing to read an stories with my art. Michael Watson – Vocals and Trombone objective description from a trusted voice in the music world; it’s quite another to learn about the music straight from the Vince Gardner – Trombone Davell Crawford – Vocals horse’s mouth, so to speak. Vince is a trombone player extraordinaire who lives in Harlem, 2 The seven CDs included with this book were recorded live but was born in the windy city of Chicago. No one plays more Sasha Masakowski – Vocals 3 and onstage over nine consecutive days at my club, Irvin comprehensive trombone than Vince. Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse. The core band consisted of a septet Gerald French – Drums and Vocals of musicians, all of whom I respect and love equally as artists Adonis Rose – Drums and friends. We’ve worked together for many years now, Born in New Orleans’ historic African-American Sixth Ward, Shannon Powell – Drums and Vocals journeying across the wide landscape of Jazz and several other also known as Treme, Adonis is the greatest drummer of his genres. Joining this revue were special guests from near and far generation in New Orleans. George Porter, Jr. – Electric Bass and Vocals who performed with us every night. The occasion was the “Love Sessions,” an annual Peter Harris – Bass James Rivers – Tenor Saxophone weeklong event which culminates on the anniversary of Peter Harris is a musician’s musician. His playing is extremely Hurricane Katrina, August 29th. Every year, a tremendous flexible and diverse. There are few bass players who can make Don Vappie – Banjo outpouring of talent and love erupts in the Playhouse, and we the acoustic bass fit on so many different styles. Peter is one of give away one hundred percent of the ticket sales revenue to a handful. Leon Brown – Trumpet different non-profit organizations. Over the last six years, the “Love Sessions” have generated over half a million dollars for Jason Marshall – Baritone Saxophone Steve Masakowski – Guitar t’s not often that you’ll find a musician writing his own THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ PLAYHOUSE REVUE IRVIN’S LINER NOTES t’s not often that you’ll find a musician writing his own charities as diverse as mental health,THE NEW children’s ORLEANS health care, JAZZ PLAYHOUSE REVUE A true New Yorker, I first met Jason while he was working with IRVIN’S LINER NOTES liner notes for a recording session.