Mary Pearson - You and I (January 2022 Arkadia Records)

“…fresh interpretations and insights… zesty… entertaining as well as romantic, as much fun as it was creative.”

– George Kanzler, Newark Star Ledger

“Long overdue – stunning and original.”

– Aaron Fensterheim- WXEL- FM 90.7

On this Arkadia Jazz recording of intimate duets, entitled “Mary Pearson: You and I”, Jazz singer Mary Pearson’s voice weaves a seamless tapestry of romance. Mary and her all-star partners Fred Hersch, Lynne Arriale, Harvie Swartz, David Lahm, Steve Davis and guitarist John Hart create a virtual suite of love songs, guaranteed to keep you under her passionate spell.

“Ms. Pearson gets to me not only with her humorous energy and stunningly musical vocal talent, but also with her “on the edge” eccentricity”. – Mark Murphy, legendary Jazz vocalist

The musical concept of the album – pairing Pearson’s indelible voice with a single instrument per song to create a collection of intimate duets – seems so clever that it’s hard to believe it is not employed more widely in the Jazz world. The simplicity of this format helps breathe new life into some of the often performed Jazz Standards, and three originals, and creates an impressive pulpit to introduce her original compositions to the world.

“These austere settings showcase the warmth and richness of Pearson’s instrument, a lush, supple voice… “You and I” is an impressive, musically exacting first effort..” – Joel E. Siegel, JazzTimes Magazine

Mary Pearson knows that it takes more than a beautiful voice to once again bring alive some of the most cherished and recorded timepieces of our American Songbook. According to the accomplished veteran, “If you can’t add something new, you may as well just put on the original and sing along”. With creative ingenuity and a vision to fashion her songs in a style never before tailored, on this Arkadia Records album, “Mary Pearson: You and I”, Pearson has been able to reclaim a glory that once existed in the classic realm of romantic Jazz, performing in the tradition of Shirley Horn, Morgana King, and Chris Conner. 

1. Lazy Afternoon 04:11

2. The More I See You 05:18

3. Take Five 02:59

4. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 03:58

5. * I Am Yours / You Are Mine 05:15

6. Thou Swell 04:03

7. You and I 05:24

8. * In Your Arms 04:11

9. How Long Has This Been Going On? 05:54

10. My Funny Valentine 03:57

11. * I Can’t Believe 03:26

12. Over the Rainbow 05:10

* Composed by Mary Pearson

All vocals and arrangements by Mary Pearson

Mary Pearson: Vocals

Fred Hersch: Piano

Lynne Arriale: Piano

John Hart: Guitar

Harvie Swartz (Harvie S): Bass

Steve Davis Drums

David Lahm: Piano

PRE-ORDER

NEW RELEASE: Vocalist Hilary Kole to release SOPHISTICATED LADY on July 23, 2021

Consummate Vocalist and NYC Jazz Staple Hilary Kole Announces the

Release of her Eagerly-Awaited New Album Sophisticated Lady out July 23, 2021

“Kole is about as polished as they come without losing a whit of warmth. Her vocal range and control remain astonishing.” Theater Pizzazz 

Consummate vocalist and New York City jazz staple Hilary Kole is thrilled to announce the release of Sophisticated Lady. Adorned by Kole’s soulful vocal sensibilities and a stellar band of first-rate instrumentalists, Kole’s latest release is a collection of mature, nuanced renditions of jazz classics which retain a spirit both heartfelt and adventurous. For nearly two decades, Kole has been heralded for her intimate piano and vocal performances, themed shows with her jazz ensemble, special concert hall symphony performances and critically acclaimed recordings showcasing her compositional prowess. With Sophisticated Lady, Kole lends her voice to 11 archetypal songs from the jazz idiom.

 Accompanying Kole on this auspicious release is her longtime rhythm section made up of guitarist John Hart, pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Paul Gill, drummer Aaron Kimmel, vibraphonist Tom Beckham and woodwinds player Chris Byars who created the thoughtful arrangements for the vast majority of the album’s tracks. Sophisticated Lady will be available worldwide on July 23, 2021, following a special release in Japan on June 25th, 2021 via Japan Victor. 

The celebrated lady of song launched her performing career as the youngest singer ever to grace the stage at NYC’s legendary Rainbow Room. For a year and a half, Kole performed 6 nights per week at the storied venue, cutting her teeth as a working musician alongside a slew of great players. Kole notes “When I was contemplating making a new record, I thought back to my days as a young singer at the Rainbow Room. Most of the standards I sang then were the songs one could always call with a pick-up band. Every musician at the time knew them. As I transitioned into more headline work and the worlds of jazz and cabaret, it became clear to me that it was important not to sing the ‘same songs’ that everybody knew. Nevertheless, the idea of going back to the basics has been calling to me lately. They are standards for a reason, after all. So, I decided to do a record of classic standards – songs I might have done at the Rainbow Room 20 years ago, or my father (acclaimed Broadway singer Robert Kole) might have done on his club dates at historic venues such as the Copa or the Maisonette Room 60 years ago.” With a refined musical sensibility, Kole returned to the very songs that marked her musical upbringing.

“Ms. Kole soars…with a voice that is at times powerful and self-assured while other moments she brings a vulnerability that touches the soul.” The Associated Press

Kole decided that she wanted to create a tapestry of sound that made this record different and unique even in its familiarity. Long a fan of Chris Byars’ playing and arranging, Kole knew that Byars would be up to the task. “When I realized I wanted a classic but unique sound,” Kole exclaimed, “I immediately thought of him – and I’m so glad I did. What Chris came up with is dark and beautiful and challenging – not your average small group charts, and just what I wanted.” 

The album begins with the title track “Sophisticated Lady”. The unhurried swing is propelled forward by the rhythmic anticipation created by Kimmel’s brushes, the flawlessly executed hits orchestrated by Byars, and Kole’s passionate refrains. A masterclass in dynamics, the melody gives way to a tasteful solo by Byars and soli section from the instrumentalists. The bright-tempoed “The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me)” is delivered here with an unrivaled zeal and exuberance. The rendition showcases Kole’s immense melodic facility while scatting as well as wonderful solo sections from the full ensemble. 

“Somebody Loves Me” and “Make Me Rainbows” provide stellar examples of Byars using the full breadth of the instrumentation to compliment Kole’s soaring vocals. Hart’s guitar and Beckham’s vibes add a softness and a fullness to the soundscape, while Birnbaum’s comping provides the perfect harmonic and rhythmic underpinnings to Kole’s voice, locking impeccably with Gill’s bass and Kimmel’s drums. Kole notes “Aaron Kimmel’s sense of swing and restraint gives the record its retro feel – he is a drummer from another time.” 

Kole adds new dimensions to Ellington’s classic “In A Sentimental Mood”, and “‘Round Midnight”, melding notes of wistfulness and resolve. “Round Midnight” offers a shift of dynamic with a pared-down instrumentation. Kole’s striking delivery of this Thelonious Monk-penned standard is complimented by guitarist John Hart’s masterful harmonic support, harkening back to the classic guitar-vocal duo of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass in both interplay and timbre. The ensemble concludes the album by exploring a cleverly-orchestrated and musically-demanding rendition of Richard Rodgers’ “The Sweetest Sounds” featuring gorgeous soli performances from Byars and Beckham and soulful improvisation from Hart, Birnbaum and Kole.

Kole’s highly-anticipated Sophisticated Lady follows several critically-acclaimed releases by the renowned vocalist including 2014’s A Self Portrait which received 5 stars from The Associated Press and glowing reviews from USA Today, JazzTimes and Downbeat Jazz Magazine. 2016 saw the release of Hilary Kole: The Judy Garland Project which received high praise from Downbeat Jazz Magazine and JazzTimes as well theater publications such as Talkin’ Broadway and CabaretScenes. Sophisticated Lady goes far to cement Kole’s stature as a preeminent interpreter of song within the jazz idiom.

1. Sophisticated Lady 4:26

2. Old Devil Moon 5:47

3. The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me) 4:09

4. Somebody Loves Me 4:56

5. Make Me Rainbows 5:12

6. Love Dance 5:46

7. In A Sentimental Mood 5:00

8. Let’s Face the Music and Dance 6:01

9. Round Midnight 5:52

10. It’s You or No One 5:07

11. The Sweetest Sounds 5:37

Hilary Kole Website

Andy Fusco - Turmoil (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2018)

During the five decades of his career alto saxophonist Andy Fusco has been regarded a musicians’ musician and he has played with numerous artists and led various combination of instrumentation except an ensemble with guitarist. So here’s Andy Fusco’s first ever guitar (pianoless) quartet with venerable veteran John Hart who gives Andy and the group a new space to explore.

ANDY FUSCO alto saxophone

JOHN HART guitar

BILL MOORING bass

RUDY PETSCHAUER drums

1 MINOR LEAGUE (Grant Green) 8:35

2 POLKADOTS AND MOONBEAMS (Jimmy Van Heusen) 7:44

3 LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING (Jerome Kern) 6:09

4 RHAPSODIA (John Hart) 6:22

5 HACKENSACK (Thelonious Monk) 9:46

6 TURMOIL (John Hart) 7:47

7 THE GYPSY (Jule Styne) 9:13

8 BELLA’S BURN (Andy Fusco) 7:34

Joe Magnarelli - Magic Trick (SteepleChase Productions ApS 2018)

When trumpeter Joe Magnarelli (known to most people as Mags) moved to New York City in 1986, he was already fully cultivated and nurtured in the rich jazz environment of upstate New York, especially around Syracuse where he was born.
In NYC Joe Magnarelli has rapidly found his own voice and established himself as one of the most-in-demand artists. This is Mags’s first album as a leader on SteepleChase label.

“The bop-based trumpeter Joe Magnarelli has it all: a warm, friendly sound, a splendid melodic imagination, a knack for writing memorable themes and for picking the best works by others, and a no-nonsense swing feel.” (The Star-Ledger)

“… Joe Magnarelli has all the essentials one looks for in the best jazz musicians. There’s his unshakeable time feel that makes his work vigorous and forward moving …. he crafts captivating, propulsive improvisations …” (Los Angeles Times)

1 AKIRA’S RIFF (Joe Magnarelli) 5:55

2 2ND ANNIVERSARY (Joe Magnarelli) 5:27

3 VERCELLI (Joe Magnarelli) 6:08

4 POLKADOTS AND MOONBEAMS (Jimmy Van Heusen) 6:48

5 IF I LOVE AGAIN (Ben Oakland) 6:18

6 REMEMBER (Irving Berlin) 7:58

7 THEME FOR ERNIE (Fred Lacey) 5:26

8 MAGIC TRICK (Joe Magnarelli) 6:52

9 L.O.V.E. (Bert Kaempfer) 6:36

10 ALONG CAME BETTY (Benny Golson) 9:32

JOE MAGNARELLI trumpet

ANDY FUSCO alto saxophone

JOHN HART guitar

BEN WOLFE bass

BYRON LANDON drums

Hart, Scone & Albin - Leading the British Invasion (ZOHO MUSIC 5 January 2018)

America has always been fascinated by the popular music exported back to us by our neighbors from across the pond. Perhaps most prominent was an oddly coiffed quartet of lads from Liverpool who simultaneously horrified parents and changed music (and hairstyles) forever. The British invasion of the 1960s has profoundly influenced music in every decade leading to the present. 

Our invaders are the feminine kind, each exhibiting an abundance of passion, grit, and soul. Included in our collection are some of today's most huge hit makers who, not unlike the invaders from the 1960s, are heavily steeped in the classic forms of American music - Blues, Soul, R&B and Rock and Roll. The ultimate simpatico cultural exchange! 

We have assembled the quintessential American ensemble, the organ trio, to interpret these songs. My collaborators are new - Adam Scone - we recently started playing music together when Adam relocated from New York to South Florida; and old - Rudy Petschauer - with whom I logged countless hours on the road with as a member of organist Jack McDuff’s group. The like-mindedness of the trio was apparent from the first time we played together. Swinging, soulful, funky, it’s all there. Cheery O! 

John Hart

With the right musicians, the classic Hammond organ trio is arguably the most eclectic and versatile small ensemble in American music.

For the organ trio to operate at maximum capacity, you must have an organist like Adam Scone who builds his sound from the bottom up. Whether he is walking a bass line or playing a funky pattern, Adam's bass never falters, regardless of what wildness is happening with his right hand at the other end of the double keyboard. This is what makes a real organ player, and when it feels right you don't miss having a bass player at all. In fact, when it’s this good, organ bass covers anything an electric or acoustic bass would handle but adds its own unique flavor. 

When you add a wide-open, adventurous guitarist like John Hart to that organ sound, you have eliminated musical boundaries and can seamlessly and convincingly cover all styles: Blues, Jazz, Rock, Soul, Bossa Nova all fit like a glove with the right organ trio. You can play at a whisper in an intimate nightclub or fill Madison Square Garden with groovy music. Stylistic considerations don't exist in the right organ trio and to me, this trio certainly does it right.

This project brings me full circle. I was introduced to jazz early on as my mother’s favorite radio station played the music of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. However, the first thing I ever learned on the drums was John Bonham's beat on Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks”. So you could say it was the British Invasion that initially inspired me and led to a lifelong compulsion to play the drums.

Rudy Albin Petschauer

We had breakfast one morning. There was a plate containing watery beans, sausage, bacon, eggs, and insanely deep fried hash browns. Rudy was driving on the “wrong side” of the road through southern England. We looked to our right and there was Stonehenge. We agreed that we had no idea who the Druids were or what they were doing. I’m sure we followed this up with having some fish and chips, or bangers and mash. We then went on to play the largest music festival in the U.K. Oh yeah, and when people ask me my name I say, “Scone, like the English biscuit.”

As a Hammond organist, playing in this group is pure pleasure. Jack McDuff is a real influence on me and I feel that his ability to make a small group sound like a little big band is truly phenomenal. My favorite record of all time is Jack McDuff’s “The Honeydripper.” John and Rudy spent many years playing in Jack’s band and understand perfectly how to make a small group sound like this. I saw them perform with Jack. I remember one time at the Blue Note in New York and the double bill was Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith. That was a real night of organ! 

The amount of musicality these guys bring to the table is phenomenal and inspiring. We worked hard to make these arrangements unique. John would create a harmony here, I would add an organ part there, and Rudy would bring the undeniable beat that works best with the Hammond Organ group.

They are steeped in the tradition. They are both masters of their instrument and style, but they also understand the give and take required to transcend the group to a different musical level. 

All great organ groups take popular songs and use them as vehicles to churn out organ style hits. That’s what we are doing here. We focus on the modern music of the UK, but follow in the footsteps of the masters. John is a genius of harmony and has come up with very interesting ways to make what may just be one chord on the original version an epic of modern jazz sensibility. Take Royals for example. I would have never thought it was possible to accomplish that. 

Adam Scone

Rehab – We picked up the tempo on the 2006 Amy Winehouse hit with a street beat from Rudy reminiscent of some of the great collaborations between Grant Green and Big John Patton. It’s a 16-bar blues.

Don’t Start Lyin To Me Now – From neo soul star Joss Stone, we keep it close to the 2011 original and use it as an excuse for some good old-fashioned garage band jamming.

The Look of Love – The ubiquitous Burt Bacharach/Hal David hit, covered by countless pop singers and jazz musicians alike, played by all of us on numerous gigs. Dusty Springfield had a hit in 1967 with it. We keep it as a jazz bossa but reinvent the harmony in an exotic fashion.

Smooth Operator – The 1984 Sade hit, we’ve all played it many times but never like this! A rockin’ shuffle.

Royals – This song was a Grammy winner and a major hit on Lorde’s 2013 debut album. For the trio I had the idea that we would go a little heavier with our interpretation. From there it took on a life of its own. 

Turning Tables – A beautiful Adele song off her 2011 release 21, we interpret it as a jazz waltz with a nod to Larry Young and Elvin Jones and echoes of the great Coltrane Quartet.

Rolling in the Deep – Adele has such a huge presence in her sound and we thought the best way to do justice to that would be to go full Band of Gypsies on this song, originally released also in 2011 on 21.

I Only Want To Be With You – Dusty Springfield had a hit in 1963 with this light and infectious melody. We swing it in the tradition of the Great American Songbook.

Blues For The U.K. – A little shout-out to our friends across the pond. Organ trio blues, what else can I say.

Body And Soul – Amy Winehouse had a tragic life and this posthumously released duet with Tony Bennett in 2011 shows a side of her seldom heard. We adapted the beautiful orchestral arrangement for trio and present as such.

Back To Black – The title tune from Ms. Winehouse’s Grammy winning 2007 album. As Rudy would say, we ham hock it in the great tradition of the organ hits of bygone days. 

John Hart, October 2017

Produced by John Hart, Adam Scone, and Rudy Albin Petschauer. Executive Producer: Joachim “Jochen” Jochen Becker. Recorded on June 25 and 26, 2017 by Brian Robertson at 10K Island in Miami, Fl. Assisted by Patrick Howard. Mixed and Mastered by Brian Robertson at 10K Island in Miami, Fl. Photography by - Philip Avello. Art direction and package design by: Jack Frisch 

John Hart plays D’Addario Strings. Adam Scone is a Hammond Artist.

1. Rehab 5:25

2. Don’t Start Lyin’ To Me Now 5:14

3. The Look Of Love 6:12

4. Smooth Operator 6:10

5. Royals 8:26

6. Turning Tables 6:34

7. Rolling In The Deep 6:44

8. I Only Want To Be With You 4:34

9. Blues For The U.K. 7:06

10. Body And Soul 4:26

11. Back To Black 4:30

John Hart Guitar

Adam Scone Hammond Organ

Rudy Albin Petschauer Drums

John Hart - Exit From Brooklyn (2016)

Label: Zoho

Source: Cdbaby

In the winter of 1984 I first arrived in New York City. Fresh out of college, armed with a couple of guitars, I was unaware that I was about to begin a 30-year odyssey in which I would experience virtually every facet of the NY jazz scene. I soon landed in Brooklyn - Fort Greene to be exact. Brooklyn was a popular location for migrating young jazz musicians at that time, as it was difficult for many to negotiate Manhattan’s high rents. Neighborhoods such as Ft. Greene, Park Slope, and Brooklyn Heights were teaming with musicians, and the sound of jam sessions coming from inside apartment buildings was ubiquitous.
It was a different Brooklyn from the Brooklyn today. The term hipster was dormant and I would venture to say that there were very few Brooklynites who knew what a latte was. The one thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the vibrant and fertile jazz scene that has always resided there.

Brooklyn is where I first met Bill Moring and Tim Horner, the two remarkable musicians who join me on this disc. We met shortly after I moved to NY, all from different parts of the country, each with different backgrounds but all with the same goal, to play and learn. We ran into each other at some of those apartment jam sessions, found each other on various gigs together, and eventually formed a trio around 2000. This is our fourth CD together. In the late 90’s we all headed to the suburbs, raised our families, played a lot of gigs together and kept those jam sessions happening (all though this time in a house, not an apartment!)

My idea for this record was for us to convene with a minimum of rehearsal, play music that is rich in melody and explore and refine the chemistry that we have developed after all these years playing together. Read more...

1. Here's That Rainy Day
2. Exit from Brooklyn
3. The Star Crossed Lovers
4. Inside Out
5. April in Paris
6. Just Friends
7. I Mean It!
8. Ask Me Now
9. Jackie-Ing
10. Where or When

 

John Hart (g)
Bill Moring (b)
Tim Horner (d)

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