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A pair of legendary pianos, two extraordinary pianists and, between them, a breathtaking singleness of groove and invention. Like no other great American jazz pianist today, Larry's playing moves people's hearts and feet. Tony has the same status in Italy. more... |
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Take a classical clarinet virtuoso with a Louisiana-bred, lifelong
passion for traditional jazz. Add a gypsy trained, died-in-the-wool
Django-style guitarist plus the East Coast’s premier bassist
for swing and blues. more... |
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Ever hear a duo create the impact of a symphony? Larry and Paul
do just that. With only piano and drums, they break through to a
breathtaking new place in music, a space where jazz and classical
and improv become indistinguishable. more... |
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Larry’s on-fire piano leads a world-class quintet in a soaring,
swinging exploration of matters of the soul and spirit. Slide Hampton
says, “Man, Larry’s playin’ like he’s on a mission!”
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Playing the New York jazz scene together for over a decade, Paul
and Santi have grown into one of jazz’s great duos. Paul’s
flawlessly warm guitar sound blends Wes Montgomery’s bluesy
soulfulness with Jobim’s Brazilian sensuality. more... |
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Quietly cooking melodic jazz and swing favs led by the rock-solid
bassist who also ably anchored our Joe Stanley and John Cocuzzi
sessions. Previti made history for 18 years backing up guitar giant
Danny Gatton. more... |
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Just back from a little Jimmy Scott recording date, Larry Willis
raved about this gorgeous sounding tenor player he’d found.
Wow, was he on the money! Right from the start of their session,
I was startled by Kindred’s amazing down-home blues power.
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The evocative balladry and quiet swing of a great piano trio—like
Bill Evans’ or our own Frank Kimbrough’s —really
gets to me. That's why I was knocked out by Gerard. He locks effortlessly
with his trio mates, Jay Anderson and Jeff Hirschfield. more... |
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If you’re a fan of piano greats like Mary Lou Williams, Dorothy
Donegan, Art Tatum and Chris Anderson, Consuela’ll be right
up your alley. With her drummer, Sangoma Everett, she does Ellington,
Waller, Kern and Berlin to pianistic perfection—and writes
ensnaring originals. more... |
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When I first heard Monica perform, I was immediately struck by her
voice—a warm, caressing alto with echoes of Rosemary Clooney
and Morganna King. I was seduced by her repertoire, a gently nostalgic
selection of great American songs. more... |
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Hey Ellington and Ben Webster fans, check out Ashby’s blues-drenched,
melodic tenor sax. You just know that jaw-dropping sound came from
a lifetime of paying dues. In 1950, Ash moved to Chicago to become
Ben Webster’s protégé and record with those Chess
blues legends. more... |
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I love the way a great jazz player can stop your breath with an
impossibly slow and tender ballad. I spent several happy days combing
though our master tapes to assemble these drop-dead gorgeous ballads.
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Jamming together in the early ’60s, trombone virtuoso Thurman
Green and bari sax giant Hamiet Bluiett swore they’d make a
great album someday. That promise bore soulful fruit here—30
years later. more... |
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Over the past 3 years, I’ve watched Sunny mature into one of
the East Coast’s most soulful ballad singers. So much so that
I jumped at the chance to record this CD, her second. Larry Willis’
soulful piano chops bought out Sunny’s most gorgeous interpretations
of Sarah, Billie and Stevie Wonder songs.
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Think of the delicate percussive subtlety of a Jobim samba. Think
of a quiet but irresistibly-swinging Wes Montgomery guitar solo.
Put them together: that’s Euforia, the mellow, stunningly original
bass-guitar-drums Brazilian trio. more... |
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If you don’t know John, you’re missing one of the greatest
living jazz pianists. His originals are dramatic and infectiously
swinging— deeply moving ballads, delicately swinging waltzes,
and out and out cookers. more... |
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Though the sound of the horn is impassioned, we'd never thought
about doing a jazz French horn session. But Mark's soulful solos
at our Ebony Brass session blew us and Bluiett away. more... |
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An intimate glimpse at the Chicago tenor sax giant at the height
of his earthy, blues-steeped sound. I recorded these historic duo
and trio sessions during 1989 and 1990. They feature Clifford jamming
with his closest musical friends, including Julian Priester, Larry
Willis, Chris Anderson and Carter Jefferson. more... |
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Rebecca’s all star sextet—including Jack Walrath, Steve
Novosel, and Steve Berrios—does her proud. Sonically, a dazzling
percussion soundscape envelopes the ringing warmth of her Steinway.
The woody resonance of the plucked bass is perfect; the trumpet’s
staccato attack is two feet in front of you. more... |
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Hamiet Bluiett’s heartfelt tribute to the Nat King Cole Trio—by
far the most original I’ve ever heard. Bluiett describes his
inspiration: “I wanted to focus on Nat as a pianist, not as
a vocalist. He was a formidable pianist, ‘anointed’ as
they say in the church.
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C.I.’s alto sound is warm and intimate. He combines the huge
sweet tone of Johnny Hodges with Benny Carter’s edge and Charlie
Parker’s raw speed and bluesiness. more... |
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Don’t let the title fool you. This lady does good old favorite
American ballads like “Sophisticated Lady” and “A
Child Is Born” with new emotion—and she cooks like no
other young singer on uptempo standards like “My Favorite Things”
and “Perdido”.
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If both Larry Willis and trombone legend Slide Hampton think this
guy is good, you know he can play. The session was elegant: Slide’s
gutty, swinging ’bone contrasted gorgeously with Avi’s
super-warm, super-mellow tone. The two interweaving ’bones
soar over Jimmy Cobb’s shimmering cymbals and Larry’s
richer-than-Godiva piano chords. more... |
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When Larry Willis was hot to do a reunion with his old trombonist
pal from Blood, Sweat & Tears days, I didn't hesitate. If you've
heard Barge's burning solos on BS&T hits, you understand. For
this CD, Larry and Barge laid down an intimate, set of pure, uncommercial
jazz—and Mapleshade set a new standard for 'bone sonics. more... |
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Our historic recording of the ballads and blues of an alto player
whose sound I can't forget, the man the Duke found to replace Johnny
Hodges. more... |
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I love the warm romantic
blend of piano, flute and bass. If you love flute ballads, you’ll
wear the aluminum off this CD. Hicks’ impassioned solos are
superb; Walter Booker’s bass adds delicate, dancing-on-tiptoes
rhythms. more... |
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This is my idea of an intimate, straight-to-the-heart jazz ballad
singer. She’s somewhat in the vein of Diana Krall, but maybe
a little more passionate. Shirley Horn brought Kendra to Mapleshade,
a singer-guitarist she discovered while on tour in Seattle. more... |
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Mellow jazz and my favorite mood CD: lyrical and powerfully moving.
I hear a warm, dark-toned, soulful trumpeter—Mingus’ last
trumpet star—making magic with the master of romantic jazz
piano. more... |
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I’m still blown away by the majesty and quietly swinging power
of Larry’s solo piano on this, his first Mapleshade session.
For 20 years, he’d wanted to record his jazz interpretations
of the church music he grew up with. Here’s the fruit of those
creative years. more... |
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Here’s a rare chance to hear David Murray in a relaxed setting,
caressing his big, lush, tenor sax sound. That’s just what
Bobby’s shimmering drums bring out here, ably abetted by Larry
Willis’ mellow, soulful piano and Santi DeBriano’s unshakable
bass line.
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Nothing I’ve recorded is closer to my heart than this, my first
collaboration with Clifford. We recorded live at a posh jazz club
in Baltimore for three great nights. Fresh off the New York jazz
circuit, Clifford’s quartet was locked-in, relaxed and happily
inspired by a house full of enthusiastic fans.
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I have a hell of a time finding quiet, mellow, introspective piano
that’s not elevator music. Thank goodness Shirley Horn dropped
this Trio off right at my door step. She told me Frank’s slow
and passionate ballads could make her cry. more... |
