Cross Street by Barking Mad Music

LINER NOTES

2025 already!

At the end of 2022, we finished a wildly successful tour of eastern and southern Australia. It was a real homecoming and the biggest treat in the world to share the stage again with Eamon, Matt, Sam, Don, John, Jason and of course Heather was there from Paris too, delighting everyone and coalescing the group like only she can.

We managed to organise two full days in the studio and made the most of some very special guests Alf Jackson, Grant Arthur and Brennan Hamilton-Smith. The repertoire is a collection of music developed each night during the tour in ensembles ranging from three musicians to the mighty eight-piece ensemble.

All of the tracks were recorded live and in one single take with zero overdubs or editing, with Heather singing live in the same room. Since the very beginning it has always been the goal, mission, dream, concept, vision (whatever you want to call it) to try and cover the widest territory of Jazz that we love whilst avoiding any feeling of pastiche.

Leigh Barker
Seine et Marne Sud, France
March 2025

Tracklist

1.	I Want Somebody to Love	2:47

2.	Viper's Dream	3:40

3.	Black and Tan Fantasy	3:47

4.	Great Big Heart	3:27

5.	Root Hog, Or Die	2:33

6.	Counting Basie	3:46

7.	Tommy's Bebop	3:36

8.	Variations on a Benny Goodman	4:13

9.	Deep Night	4:14

10.	Brave Man Blues	4:09

11.	Jason's Swanage Siesta	2:31

12.	Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble	2:37

13.	Poor Butterfly	4:39

Credits

released May 10, 2025

All songs copyright © 2025 Leigh Barker
Serial number / catalogue number BMM 2025

Recording information:
All music arranged and/or composed by Leigh Barker
Recorded 7th and 8th December 2022 by Phil Noy at the Cross Street Music Hall in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia
Produced and mixed by Phil Noy and Leigh Barker
Mastered by Robby Hunter at “The Attic” New York
Design by Megan Grant
Photography by Van Weyenbergh (Paris) Greg Stoodley gregstoodley.com (Canberra)
plus studio photography and portraits from the band members

Contact: team@barkingmadmusic.com
www.leighbarker.com
www.barkingmadmusic.com

Musicians :

TRACKS 1-3, 6, 12

BAND 1 / DAY 1
Leigh Barker – bass
Heather Stewart – voice and violin
Eamon McNelis – trumpet
Matt Boden – piano
John Scurry – guitar and banjo
Sam Young – drums
Jason Downes – clarinet and alto sax
Grant Arthur – trombone

TRACKS 5, 10*, 13**

BAND 2 / DAY 2
Alfred Jackson – drums
Brennan Hamilton-Smith – clarinet and alto sax
Donald Stewart – trombone
*No Donald
**Add Phil Noy – tenor saxophone (CD ONLY!)

TRACKS 4,7-9

QUARTET
Alf drums, Leigh Heather and Matt
TRIO
Alf drums, Leigh and Matt

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