Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Mackay: Peaced Heart and Often Grin

John Mackay: Peaced Heart and Often Grin

By Dave Nathan
June 1, 2001
View read count

John Mackay came to the Napa Valley and Sonoma wine countries of California via Toronto, New York and Boston. In addition to jazz, Mackay has written choral works and is currently immersed in Indian music and instruments. This album is dedicated to Sri Sri Bhagavan who has the title of Divine World Teacher. The six Mackay originals on the album find their roots in Bhagavan's teaching. If the music is any indication, serenity is an important part of the man's teachings. Even "Tennessee Waltz" is done in a limpid manner while "Smile" is almost tranquilizing.

The album, however, is not all "peaced" heart. Things are livened up considerably on the standards where Mackay shows his ability to swing while surprises as he intersperses unusual chord combinations and runs while at no time resorting to pounding the ivories. This technique comes to full fruition on "Bye Bye Blackbird" where the group has a lot of fun while giving this oft played standard a new bright musical paint job.

No matter what the tempo or the philosophical underpinning for the session, Mackay establishes himself as an excellent pianist (we can do without the synthesizer) and we need to hear more from him. In the meantime, it's recommended that this album be added to "to buy" lists.

Track Listing

Never Not Knowing Bavaneeta; Smile; You and the Night and the Music; Scrambling Nobles*; Tennessee Waltz; On the Road to Franklin Square*; Psychotic Dance Moves*; In the Manner of Flowers*; Bye Bye Blackbird*; And After so Long a Time*

Personnel

John Mackay

piano

John MacKay - Piano/Synthesizer; Steve Zerlin, Wilbur Krebs*- Bass; Paul Distel, Michael Aragon* - Drums

Album information

Title: Peaced Heart and Often Grin | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Music in the Vines

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Mats Gustafsson / Paul Lovens Duo & ...
< Previous

Buddy Childers
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.