LAST UPDATED: 5.24.05 Scenes from The Mark Sweetman Quartet at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA 6.26.04 "The gig was fantastic!" "I think it was some of my best playing. Beautiful place to play." "My Ayottes sound so pure. the Band cooked." "Local jazz drummer Mark Sweetman and his quartet evoke a classic time in the history of jazz with both original compositions and standards. Sweetman's latest recording Remembering John Coltrane was released earlier this year." www.kimmelcenter.org Mark Sweetman Quartet plays The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA 4.7.04: "Earlier that evening, at 6 p.m. the Mark Sweetman Quartet offers a free performance on Commonwealth Plaza." -The Weekly Press -Toolbox/Klatha Listing -Philly.com -CourierPost.com -PhiladelphiaWeekly.com -AllAboutJazz.com -Gazette NOT YOUR AVERAGE NEW YORK GIG! "Got the Call from Prince Pierre . Patty Labelle's agent. 'Got a gig for you up in New York! Ms. Labelle is having several bands play and we would like you to be one of them.' I Immediately get on the phone. Called up the old crew to see who was available. Everyone's cool. Later I found out that the day before, in NEW YORK there will be a party at a penthouse overlooking Central park, and although we will not perform, Ms LaBelle will be saying a few kind words about me and the band and I will discuss the music we will be performing. We are what is now being called one of Patty's Pearls . Quite an honor, considering that the band plays jazz from the heart and not R&B or Hip HOP. Very cool. Short but sweet. Get all the boys together December 18th Rehearsal at 10.30 am to 12.00am. Run from the house catch a train and of to NEW YORK. Get there and Ms Labelle gives me the nicest hug, "Mark, You maid it. We were just talking about you." It was just great. Snap goes the publicity shots, and off we go talking to lots of people, record execs and that sort. Lots of faces from the media. It was a ball. We get a little late lunch, and then its home we go. But just before we leave, Prince Pierre and Ms. Labelle ask if we are staying over. Next morning George , my roadie, gets the gear in the car and Ellen and I are off to New York. Finding the gig was no problem, using my own kit seemed like it would be a problem. So I decided to go with the house kit. The Limelight was not going to be the easiest place to break down a kit and move it out. It was 12.00PM when we went on. From music with a hard pounding beat to our jazzy style was more than I thought the crowd could take. However, With such powerful players as Ralph Bowen , Dan Kleiman, and Matt Parrish, the crowd turned its attention our way. After the show there was more excitement to come. Prince Pierre told Ellen and myself to stay around. The other acts went on and there performances where no less electrifying to the audience. The show finally over we were whisked away in Patty Labelle's Limo. Stretch no less about a block long. We went back to the Trump Hung out and then took the limo back to the Hotel about 4.00 AM. Intense, electrifying fun. SO there you have it for now . What's upcoming? A gig with Ms.Labelle in Jamaica and a new studio CD. It's a more street-funky album with raw horns, using clips from my past three cds" -Mark Sweetman For more information, CDs or for bookings contact Mark Sweetman at Markmuse@aol.com. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: More live shots from 2005...