Founded by MacDermot in 1979 in response to demands for more music following the film adaptation of Hair, the New Pulse Jazz Band features Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, Wilbur "Bad" Bascomb on bass, Allen "Wing" Won on reeds, John Frosk on trumpet, Vince MacDermot on trombone, and Patience Higgins on baritone sax. Jeff Schiller subs for Mr. Higgins for the West Bank Café engagement.
Joining MacDermot and the New Pulse Jazz band are vocalists Suzanne Griffin, Catrice Joseph Hart, and Melanie May Po. The evening will feature new works and favorites from MacDermot's repertoire.
This past summer the Public Theater and Joe's Pub in the Park staged the 40th anniversary concert of MacDermot's Hair in Central Park. MacDermot has also penned "Ode to the Arcane Borough" for the Staten Island Composers Project, as well as the musicals Two Gentleman of Verona, Dude, Via Galactica and The Human Comedy. The album from MacDermot and New Pulse – "Leap of Faith – will be released shortly on Kilmarnock Records. MacDermot will also be the subject of a new documentary entitled "Ear of the Heart."
Showtime is 8 PM. There is a $20 cover and a $15 food/drink minimum. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 695-6909 or by visiting westbankcafe.com.
The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd Street at Ninth Avenue in Manhattan.