Jazzing Up Newport

By: Stephanie Turaj
Posted In: Entertainment

What is that jazz music playing in Newport? Maybe it is the MSD Quintet, a local jazz band. Four of its members are Salve faculty,

including bassist Peter Davis, the music department chair. Michael Johnson, band founder and keyboardist, teaches “Small Jazz Combo” and “Jazz Piano/Theory.” Drummer Jeff Fountain and Doug Woolverton, the trumpet and flugelhorn player, are adjuncts. The fifth member is Jon Lavieri,who plays tenor sax.

Johnson started the MSD Quintet in 1996. The band’s first gig was at Billy Goodes on Marlborough Street. “One thing I believe in is you don’t go out and play until you’re ready,” Johnson said. “We rehearsed a lot. Our first performance was good to go and well rehearsed.”

The band rehearses primarily on Sunday and Thursday at their rehearsal space of five years, located on Mill Street. The

building, previously an office called schoolyard.com, contributed to the name of the band. MSD stands for modus scholasticus dominus, Latin for Musical Schoolyard.

The rehearsal building is also depicted on the cover of the band’s first album, “Driven.” The album served as a great learning experience for the band. Johnson explained each track on the album, from the New Orleans’ style “Chick-A-Doo” to the title track “Driven,” has a story. The MSD Quintet recorded the CD in three different places and with the help of many, including editing by Salve student Joe Miklovic.

The MSD Quintet can be heard at local venues such as Asterisk Restaurant and Bar, Newport Blues Café and in Providence venues. Upcoming performances are held most Thursday nights at Asterisk, located on 599 Thames St.

The MSD Quintet performed for Salve’s 60th anniversary and this summer’s Newport Jazz Festival, where they rehearsed alongside the Aretha Franklin Band at Cecila Hall. Johnson wishes students were there to see the rehearsals. “[It would] open the eyes to what we can do here musically in Newport, R.I., home of the Jazz festival,” Johnson said.

This March, the MSD Quintet will perform at Salve, along with the jazz band, the Yellowjackets, and guitarist Mike Stern.

While the MSD Quintet holds no official tie to Salve, there is plenty of support from the Salve community.

Listeners have included Dean de la Motte and many students. “It feels good to see students in the audience and see them soaking it in,” Johnson said. “[In that way] we are giving back. We are paying it forward.”

Johnson would like to be more involved with Salve. “We have contacts in the music world that we can invite here and play,” Johnson said. “We are here, so use us for that.”

Johnson said that many of the students he teaches have a good energy. “The talent on campus is phenomenal,” Johnson said. “There are really good musicians. We’d love to hear from them.”

Johnson urges Salve to encourage it’s talent. He also hopes to have a building dedicated to the music department to attract students and have more rehearsal space.

For aspiring musicians, Johnson advised, “Do a lot of writing. You have to do your own material.

The band plans to record again this December. Johnson also hopes to tour nationally and internationally. “It is hard to establish a band, especially in a category where venues are becoming less frequent,” Johnson said. “[We need to] take it on the road; we can’t stay in a smaller state and expect a lot to happen.”