Although the Salt City Jazz Collective played its first gig in December of 1995, the band actually began in 1984. At that time, myself and fellow trumpet player Rob Parton formed a new, experimental band known as the Jazzteck Big Band in Lexington, Kentucky. The formula was simple: play big band jazz, and only jazz. The purpose was to provide pure musical enjoyment for the players and the audience, with the individual members contributing in different ways to the success of the band. In Lexington, this formula created a band that everyone wanted to play in, and one that has since moved onto and found great success in Chicago, the Windy City. When Rob Parton moved to Chicago, we decided he would take the Jazzteck Big Band, book and all, with him. At the same time, I moved to Florida and started to put together a new book of music. The book was made up of jazz compositions that I liked to play, or that I wanted to play. I hoped that someday I would be in another city where there were enough quality musicians to duplicate the earlier success of the original Jazzteck Big Band. The book grew in both quality and in size over the next several years until, when in 1995, I found myself in Syracuse, the Salt City. I knew there was finally a possibility of using the new book I had put together over the previous ten years. I only had to ask one person if they would like to work with me and put together a new jazz orchestra. Drummer and founding co-leader Brian Kendrick (now in California) was that person. His connections made the band possible. Brian was already working in the Central New York jazz scene, and he knew everyone. But putting the band together was not easy. In the beginning, we had no idea if we could even get enough interested musicians to even show up for a rehearsal. We wanted a BAND, and we did not want to have just another pick-up group, playing with who ever was available on a given night. This concept presented quite a challenge, but from those very humble beginnings came the Salt City Jazz Collective. Bands like this usually don’t last very long. Almost always, one of three things happens: the gigs are a drag; there is bad leadership; the book is not very good. Happily, the Salt City Jazz Collective’s gigs are never a drag. When we put the band together, we decided the band would perform on a limited basis, the idea being to keep the energy level high and that every gig would be something special. There is also a leadership system in place in which the leader is more of a quarterback as opposed to a contractor. To a certain degree, everyone is a leader and has ownership of the band. But the last part that makes the band work is the book. We have a book containing compositions from every other major big band, and we have our own repertoire. With composers Joe Riposo and Angelo Candela, we have a one - two punch that few big bands anywhere have. This recording represents their compositions and arrangements as well as their fantastic solo work. Currently, lead trombonist Joe Colombo is the guy who steers the ship. He took over the leadership reins in 1998, and the band has never been better. In addition to being a great trombone soloist, he books the gigs and sets the rehearsal schedule. As a result of Joe’s behind the scenes work, the band has risen to a whole new level. We continue to perform at our home base, the Syracuse Suds Factory. For the past five years we have been very fortunate to work closely with the club’s owner, Al Smith. From the beginning, he has supported us by not only providing a very hip venue in which to perform, but also by letting us develop our own style of performance. I know I can speak for all the guys in saying thank you Al. I hope you enjoy Joe Riposo and Angelo Candela’s compositions, and if you are ever in Syracuse on a Wednesday night, check out the Syracuse Suds Factory. You just might get to really hear us live! John Laverty Syracuse, New York July 2000
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