The Genesis of Craig Gildner and The Ivy City 6
In early 2017, bandleader Craig Gildner got a request to put together a small ensemble playing the music of Count Basie for the memorial service of an Army general, held at Ft. McNair. Count Basie, and only Count Basie.
Even though he had several small ensembles, there wasn’t really one to fit the bill. He contacted his long time musical compatriot and ace arranger/reed man Scott Silbert to write an hour’s worth of transcriptions of the Kansas City 6 and 7. Four rhythm, sax, trumpet and trombone.
The attendees and the general’s daughter were pleased…but then again, so were Craig and Scott.
They got together after the performance and fleshed out the book with some more Count Basie, along with bands that the various Basie sidemen started or played in (Al Cohn and The Natural Seven, Paul Quinichette, Lester Young, Buck Clayton’s All Stars), added a trombone, and a band was born!
The name comes from a neighborhood in DC that Craig lives near to. He’d seen the location on a Metro bus destination sign for years, and figured it would be a great selection for the band and a fitting homage to the Count Basie small groups.
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