Cool Shade of Blue plays jazz and swing music of all styles, but mostly in the style of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. The Band's arranger, William Johnson, is a true Ellington scholar and the writing he has done for this band is brilliant.
Richard Marsters, the band's leader and trumpet player, loves to swing dance so at least half of the music is dedicated to dancing. The other half of the music is dedicated to mainstream jazz and William Johnson's originals. The band sounds like west coast swing bands of the late fifties one minute, and the screaming Count Basie Bands of the sixties and seventies the next. Cool Shade of Blue will take you on a musical trip, starting at the Cotton Club, Basin Street Memphis and end up in San Francisco.
If you are interested in more information concerning Cool Shade of Blue, please call Richard Marsters at 207-856-1642.
Cool Shade of Blue
Joan is also the vocalist of the jazz nonet,
Cool Shade of Blue, based out of Portland.
The following is an excerpt from a press release by
Cool Shade's band leader, Richard Marsters:
The first Cool Shade of Blue CD, "Swing Dance at the Church",
is now available. E-mail JHAGER1@MAINE.RR.COM for copies.
