The high-energy, thunderous sounds of the John Allmark Orchestra have a new home at Alchemy in Providence’s Jewelry District. The Orchestra is keeping alive a classic jazz tradition which originated at Bovi’s, an iconic club in East Providence, until it closed its doors ten years ago.
Duke Ellington, one of the legendary big band leaders in jazz history, was surely smiling down from Heaven on a recent Monday night, as a packed house roared. The veteran
band sailed through amazing compositions from masters, including Dizzy Gillespie. Arendition of “Night In Tunisia” and a blistering version the Maynard Ferguson classic, “GoEast Young Man,” also stood out.
Allmark, has been a much sought-after trumpet player for decades, working with A-list performers including Liza Minelli, Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra.
As a young man, he relocated from England to the Providence area and made a name for himself at just nineteen years old. . While he trained as a classical trumpet player, Allmark soon found big and jazzy could really showcase his musical skills.
After realizing that Monday nights were slower for the region’s best jazz players, Allmark decided his goal would be to keep the Monday night big band tradition alive, even twenty-five years after drummer Duke Belaire retired.
Belaire started the big band Monday night shows nearly fifty years ago while working at clubs, including Bovi’s. Allmark said the current gig at Alchemy will be a good fit for the band because their management really believes in keeping the swinging sound alive. Although he played at Bovi’s and the Met prior to the Covid lockdown, he really is pleased with the jazz lovers who are loyal fans at his new found Monday night home.
Allmark said his aim is to have a “cutting edge sound” while staying true to the history and grandeur of the era.
Working with esteemed local musicians, including the brilliant sax player Bob Bowlby, who recorded with Buddy Rich, jazz drummer extraordinaire, and has worked with the Boston Pops Orchestra for decades, Allmark said he is fortunate to be on stage with some of the region’s best musicians that showcase their incredible talents. Many players in the orchestra said they look forward to the Monday night gig, feeling that big band jazz is a treasure for both the players and jazz lovers alike.
Anchored by veteran drummer Vinnie Pagano and RI native bassist
Evan Carly, both musicians’ sets made the audience feel transported back to the famed Cotton Club, the Harlem landmark of the 1940s big band era.
The swinging energy had the audience loving every note, as we listened to stellar sets that included compositions by Wayne Shorter of Weather Report, a ’70s fusion jazz act, and the heavenly sounds of “West End Blues”, a masterpiece by the king of swing, trumpeter Louie Armstrong.
This show was a throwback for me, who as a youngman had seen Rich, along with legendary drummer Louis Bellson. Hopefully Providence jazz lovers will support the John Allmark Orchestra for years to come. It was a night for jazz music junkies to celebrate and they did.