Portland Nights
Mark Simon Ensemble

1. Transformation 3'29"
2. Elizabeth 4'26"
3. Soul Search 3'53"
4. Hometown Blues 5'30"
5. Lazy Sue 7'04"
6. Silent Rumblings 4'46"
7. Sunday Rain 9'03"
8. Portland Nights 3'46"

Paul Mazzio - flugelhorn, muted trumpet
Michael Bard - soprano saxophone
Mark Simon - piano
Dave Captein - acoustic bass
Gary Hobbs - drum, co-arrangement (track 6)

Produced by Michael Bard.
All compostitions and arrangements by Mark Simon (Dig This Music, BMI) ©1995 Libra Moon.

Mark Simon has been an important cog in the Portland jazz scene for more than 30 years. Growing up in Chicago and influenced by a wide range of pianists, from Vince Guaraldi and Bill Evans to Keith Jarrett and McCoy Tyner, he moved to Portland to be involved with that city’s livable climate and active jazz environment.

Mark’s debut CD, Portland Nights, features eight Simon originals that collectively explore a wide range of the jazz spectrum. Collaborating with Mark on the CD are topnotch jazz musicians.

Drummer Gary Hobbs has been one of the hardest-working, in-demand percussionists in the Northwest for years, supplying rock-steady time and flexible, creative approaches to rhythm. Hobbs was with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and in the 70’s, has played with Tower of Power, has worked as a clinician for Yamaha Drums and has played on a number of local, regional and nation recordings.

Bassist Dave Captein has traveled in both classical and jazz worlds while winning awards and scholarships for his technical prowess on both acoustic and electric bass. He has worked with a variety of national artists, including; Mose Allison, Art Lande, Richie Cole, Red Holloway, Ernestine Anderson, Larry Coryell, Dave Frishberg and Tom Grant.

Trumpeter Paul Mazzio’s credits range from three years with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, Rosemary Clooney and Teresa Brewer to gigs with Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Nelson Riddle and others.

Producer Michael Bard also contributes his soprano sax talents to the title track of Portland Nights. Also a native of Chicago, he was part of the oft-recorded Simon & Bard contemporary jazz group and prior to that directed the ground-breaking nine-piece band Matrix. Bard also played in the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the late 70’s. He currently operates Studio Bard, writing, producing and licensing music for TV, films and commercials.

CD liner notes

Mark shows a definite affinity for classic bop melodic lines, especially on the quartet charts featuring Paul Mazzio's flugelhorn and trumpet, yet on the two piano trio tunes settles into a solid channel that displays broad improvisational chops with far-ranging results.

There's no lack of artistry from the players Mark has chosen for this project. Produced by Michael Bard, half of the Chicago-based Simon & Bard group of the late 70's and 80's (pianist Fred Simon is Mark's brother), the recording is a successful collaboration of highly skilled, artistic jazz musicians.

Paul Mazzio's creative trumpet and flugelhorn work puts a focus on Mark's composing skills, while Dave Captein's bass and Gary Hobbs' drum provide the tensile strength of a jazz rhythm section: concrete tempos embroidered with the necessary freedom to make it swing. Producer Bard even gets into the act on one quartet tune, joining the Mark Simon Ensemble on soprano sax on the title song "Portland Nights."

"This is a group effort," says Mark, "and each man here contributes to the chemistry of the whole. As leader, I feel I'm a catalyst in bringing together diverse jazz musicians in to one project that allows each to show his own talent."
- John Wendeborn, oft-published music writer, coordinator of Vocal Madness, and generally a hep jazz cat

“Local piano virtuoso Mark Simon sent me his debut CD Portland Nights and it’s a superior effort. Mark composed and arranged all eight songs and utilized the talents of popular sidemen well-known to this area. Although each song is superb, my favorites are Hometown Blues, Sunday Rain and Portland Nights.”
- Bonnie Carter - Positively Entertainment

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