It has been about fifteen years since five of the leading lights of the Frenchmen Street modern jazz scene have played together. Known collectively as Quintology, the band members met as students the University of New Orleans and have individually gone on to great success in the wider music world. They are performing three times this week. I included the link to the band’s site even though it is circa 2003. The videos are vintage as well from the television show Louisiana Jukebox in 1998.
The first set finds trumpeter Mark Rapp, drummer Mark DiFlorio, bassist Brady Kish, saxophonist Brent Rose, and keyboardist Charlie Dennard back in their old stomping grounds at UNO. They will perform at the Sandbar at 7 PM tonight.
Thursday night the group will play two sets at Snug Harbor at 8 and 10 PM. Friday night finds them on a new stage when they light up Chickie Wah Wah at 9 PM.
During their time in New Orleans, the five musicians played together and recorded two albums as Quintology (the second had producer Brian Seeger replacing Rapp), their eponymous debut and Blues By 5.
They also played with a wide range of local and national talent. Rose and Dennard are no strangers to The Vinyl District. Both musicians are currently living and working in New Orleans and have been featured here multiple times.
The other three musicians have spread their wings and the gospel of New Orleans modern jazz across the world. Mark DiFlorio lives in Seattle where he teaches drumming and plays in a variety of bands.
Bassist Brady Kish also lives in Seattle where he plays with DiFlorio in Hereward among other musical pursuits. Trumpeter Mark Rapp has lived around the world and recently performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and was featured on a Travel Channel documentary about the festival.
