by Bill Milkowski, Jazziz<\/p>\n
ALL IN THE FAMILY BAND<\/p>\n
Mark Whitfield and his sons release their sparkling debut.<\/p>\n
During the 1990’s, Mark Whitfield would bring his two young boys, Davis and Mark Jr., to his gigs around town. They would sit on his amps during soundchecks, hang out in dressing rooms after sets and generally make theselves comfortable at storied New York Jazz Clubs like Birdland, the Blue Note and Small’s. Two decades later, the guitarist’s sons are now mature musicians – pianist Davis is 23, drummer Mark Jr. is 26 – making their way in the jazz world and playing alongside their proud father in the newly formed Whitfield Family Band (which includes honorary family member Yasushi Nakamura on bass).<\/p>\n