Leavin’ on the Midnight Train to Gotham City

Rip It Up, Issue 106, 1 May 1986, Page 8

Leavin’ on the Midnight Train to Gotham City

What did the country’s busiest horn section decide to do with their time off? They formed a band of their own — a hobby band, in which the musicians could play their favourite music which they never got to play on their professional jobs.

The Gotham City Express was formed 18 months ago by that highprofile pair, the Newton Hoons. But in that time they have only played eight concerts — because ‘the members of the band, being professional musicians, are all very hard to pin down on the same night off. Among the impressive line-up are singers Annie Crummer and Kim Willoughby, bassist Billy Kristian, drummer Lyn Buchanan and guitarist Gary Verberne.

“The idea of the band was to have a part-time blow,” says trumpetplayer Mike Russell, partner of saxman Chris Green in the Newton Hoons. “There were certain types of music wed never done, So we rang up some other musicians to see if they were interested.” The jam session worked so well, and was so much fun, that they decided to do the occasional gig, playing “the sort of music musos listen to”: Tower of Power, Jeffrey Osborne, Gladys Knight; each of the band chose a song they'd always wanted to play. The name of the band also reflects their interests. Russell, a Batman freak, was watching television one day, saw “Gotham City” on the screen, then his eyes drifted to a Tom Scott’s LA Express record. “Holy Moniker, Batman!” he cried, “I've got it!” :

Now, the band have recorded an album, the Gotham City Express, and they were recently filmedto ap-

pearon 12 OClock Rock. So the Express will keep on rolling: “There's so much interest that wed be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn't keep going,” says Russell. “But we'll continue it on this basis — a 12-piece band isn't viable, the Newton Hoons don't want to pinned down — and I'm sure the others, who are also freelancers, have the same feeling. It may be a while before the next Express gig, though, as three members have recently gone to Australia: singer Peter Morgan, pianist Lar-

ry Martinez, and Gary Verberne (who has gone to join DD Smash). “But it's amazing,” says Green. “Out of nowhere will come a great player. For example, Larry was playing at the Casablanca club, a place | hadn't heard of, and he blew our socks off. There’s a reservoir of talented musicians just floating around.” -

Russell agrees. “That’s been one of the best things about this band — discovering these hot players, tucked away in places like Napier or Gisborne. The diverse background of the band, different nationalities and cities, has given it its distinctive sound.”

“It's also given some musicians a chance to prove what else they can do,” says Green. “Lyn Buchanan, who's known in Auckland as a four-on-the-floor rock drummer, was playing funk and jazz in Christchurch for years. Gary's the same — he can play anything from heavy metal to jazz." .

Gotham City Express features eight of the tracks the band play live — was recorded live in the studio in a six hour session. “Most jazz albums are done live,” explains Russell. “What they're after is the feel. Rock has got away from that with all the mass production. There's a trap of doing too much in the recording studio, so that the product they end up withisn't them — they can't play live what's on the record. This band could go out and do it tomorrow.” The Gotham City Express has been a beneficial burst of energy for the Newton Hoons. “Playing sessions, things can be very impersonal,” says Green. “There's also a limit of the input you can make when you're working for others.”

Russell: “We've shown ourselves thatif you get the right people and the right material, you can achieve anything. You don't need all that technology.” ,

Chris Bourke