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Marian McPartland & Friends: 85 Candles - Live in New York
The guest list included singers Norah Jones, Jackie Cain, Barbara Carroll, Curtis Stigers, Nnenna Freelon, and Karrin Allyson, as well as many instrumentalists—from pianist Billy Taylor, trumpeter Clark Terry, guitarist Jim Hall, and alto sax veteran Phil Woods to young modernists including pianist Jason Moran, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonist Chris Potter, and violinist Regina Carter.
The two-CD set captures many of the magic moments, ranging from solo to sextet performances. Three different piano duos team McPartland with George Wein ("Take the 'A' Train ), Moran ("Summertime ) and Taylor ("Capricious ). Norah Jones joins McPartland and her rhythm mates (bassist Garry Mazzaroppi and drummer Glenn Davis) for a version of "The Nearness of You that is both sweet and poignant. A McPartland-Hargrove piano-trumpet duo on "My Foolish Heart is both beautiful and warmly intimate in its understatement.
Chris Potter and McPartland's trio burn through "Tangerine." One particular sextet grouping features a splendid version of the Miles Davis classic "All Blues with trumpeter Dave Douglas, Phil Woods, hornman Ravi Coltrane, Mazzaroppi, Davis, and the late pianist James Williams. In the recording's lone solo moment, Bill Charlap offers a brief medley featuring "Onyx Mood by Dick Hyman, "Soft Lights and Sweet Music by Irving Berlin, and "Kaleidoscope —the motif that McPartland uses as the theme for her award-winning "Piano Jazz series on NPR. There is much to enjoy and appreciate here.
Track Listing
Disc One: 1. I Love You (9:10) 2. The Nearness Of You (5:17) 3. Tangerine (8:04) 4. Last Night When We Were Young (6:02) 5. Twilight World (5:10) 6. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (7:13) 7. Free Piece (2:36) 8. Old Friend (3:00) 9. Have You Met Miss Jones (2:28) 10. Take The 'A' Train (4:48) 11. Summertime (4:16) Disc Two: 1. All Blues (9:15) 2. My Foolish Heart (5:20) 3. But Not For Me (3:25) 4. Memories Of You (6:56) 5. Yesterdays (6:04) 6. While We're Young (3:52) 7. I've Told Every Little Star (5:44) 8. Capricious (3:45) 9. What Am I Here For (4:59) 10. Onyx Mood / Soft Lights & Sweet Music / Kaleidoscope (3:00) 11. Lester Leaps In (7:44)
Personnel
Marian McPartland
pianoMarian McPartland, Gary Mazzaroppi, Bill Crow and Glenn Davis plus guests Karrin Allyson, Jackie Cain, Barbara Carroll, Regina Carter, Bill Charlap, Ravi Coltrane, Dave Douglas, Jon Faddis, Nnenna Freelon, Jim Hall, Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones, Jackie King, Jason Moran, Chris Potter, Loren Schoenberg, Curtis Stigers, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, George Wein, James Williams, Phil Woods.
Album information
Title: 85 Candles - Live in New York | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Concord Music Group
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