Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The Mike Kaplan Nonet is one of New Jersey's hidden jazz treasures. The music is an irresistable mix of big band bravado and small ensemble adventurousness. At its burly, boisterous best, the Nonet has the drive and excitement of the mid-size bands Charles Mingus recorded with. - George Kanzler
One of the best unknown/unsigned bands on the scene
The unit has turned heads on charts that swing righteously and leave colorful subliminal suggestions. Saxist Bob Hanlon, trumpeter Bill Mobley and trombonist Pete McGuinness distinguish themselves upfront and the band's got a rhythm corps that kicks butt.
- Gene Kalbacher
Discography
How's That? Semi-Sweet Records SM-12 (released 2-15-03)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Mike Kaplan Nonet has been performing in various venues around the NYC area since 1987. The unit combines the cohesion and strength of a big band with the sponteneity and looseness of a small group. The Nonet features a tight six-man horn section(3 brass and 3 reeds) and a flexible, intuitive rhythm section that has played together in various units since the early ‘80s. A partial list of people and bands that members of the band have performed and/or recorded with includes the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, Buddy Rich, Dr. John, Chris Potter, Liza Minnelli, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Ray Barretto, Joe Williams, Art Farmer, Tony Trischka, the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, Pat Martino, Peter Frampton, Chico Mendoza’s Latin Jazz Dream Band and Blood, Sweat and Tears.
The repertoire of the band consists of original arrangements by the leader and other members of the band of their own compositions and also rearrangements of tunes by Monk, Mingus, Ellington, Cedar Walton and others. The styles that the band plays in a typical set span the gamut from Swing to Latin to New Orleans 2nd line R ‘n B to Free.
Links
