Arthur Street Loft Orchestra - Mark Lockett

Monday night at The Third Eye is big band night with the Arthur Street Loft Orchestra. The band shifts personnel each week and features the music of a local composer. This past Monday, drummer Mark Lockett provided the tunes (mostly from his trio album Sneaking Out After Midnight) which were arranged by Lucien Johnson for the pretty standard lineup of 5 saxes, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and rhythm. I was surprised to learn that this was Mark's first ever big band gig. And maybe that's what I liked most about his playing... he didn't seem like a big band drummer (that chops-driven, bombastic, big band drumming cliche has never really appealed to me). Due the pick-up nature of the band, things tend to be a little underrehearsed, but it really didn't matter at all, as the feeling projected by the band overpowered any inefficiencies. In fact, it was the most fun I've seen and felt exuding from the bandstand in quite some time. It's catchy too, as the crowd really got on board with the good vibes. Jake Baxendale is doing a great job putting together this series, get along and check it out.

Mark Lockett featured with the Arthur Street Loft Orchestra