Mark Shelby, a bassist, heard about the World Stage in Los Angeles. It was funded by Billy Higgins. Shelby met Richard Grant, a trumpeter, at the World Stage in August 1990. A few months later, Willie Jones III, and James Mahone joined them. The musicians had the opportunity to create and consolidate a collective sound by jamming every night at the World Stage, from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. Their first gigs were in January 1991. Eric Reed and Kenneth Crouch were among their first musicians. Ark Sano, Black/Note’s regular piano player, had recorded their first set, 43rd u0026 Degnan (for World Stage). Grant was awarded a scholarship by Rutgers University in February 1992. He left the group. After performing as a quartet for a while, Gilbert Castellanos was appointed the new trumpeter. Black/Note, along with the B Sharp Quartet gained some recognition in mid-’90s for being a fine hard-bop and post-bop ensemble made up of young black musicians in Los Angeles who wanted acoustic music. Black/Note recorded for Columbia (Jungle Music), and Impulse (Nothin’ but the Swing), but it lost some of its identity when Castellanos quit the band. This made it a less distinctive (and part-time). Allmusic
