Steve Barta: Three Ships (2003)

C. MICHAEL BAILEY,

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: April 9, 2003

Better Late than Never.

Pianist and composer Steve Barta has released several fine holiday-related discs. To date these include That Christmas Feeling, Noel, Christmas Around the World, and The Twelve Days of Christmas. His Christmas offerings, especially the latter and this new recording, have absorbed a Bossa base that was very much in presence in his fine jazz release Blue River .

Three Ships concentrates on the more secular holiday songs. "I Love The Winter Weather/I’ve Got Your Love To Keep Me Warm,’ "White Christmas," "It Looks Like December," "Sleigh Ride," and "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" all show up. Mr. Barta chooses a string orchestra to accompany himself and his trio, augmented by flautist and oboists, recalling his past collaborations with Herbie Mann. The sum of the total is a very user friendly, jazz-oriented holiday disc that will please most everyone.

Visit Steve Barta .

Track Listing: Caroling, Caroling; I Love The Winter Weather/I

Personnel: Steve Barta-Piano; Kim Stone-Bass; Russell Burnett-Drums; Paul Nagem-Flutes; Bob Rebholtz- Flute; Guy Dutra-Silveier-Oboe.

Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream