Customer Reviews

Dancing in the Dark

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

this is a must if you are a fan of solo piano. Dave swings like mad, and his ballad treatment is a composer's dream. This album belongs in any "best of" list, and is a highpoint for piano performance and for Dave McKenna. Do yourself a favor, and add this to your collection.

This is one of Mckenna two best discs, the other being the recital at Maybeck. The piano here is not quite a match for the superb Yamaha at Maybeck, but Mckenna is maybe the best jazz pianist EVER, and the songs by Arthur Schwartz sit squarely in the middle of the greatest period of American musical creativity. It's music Mckenna loves, and it shows in his performances. I've had this disc in my car for 2 years, play it weekly minimum, and still shake my head at the spirit and little magnificences he finds in these wonderful songs. Try to find their equal now!

Marian McPartland, in the insert notes to this CD, says that Dave McKenna loved Sousa marches. That goes a long way to explaining the ever steady, rolling, single-note, on-the-beat left hand of Dave McKenna, certainly his signature trait. It often starts barely noticeable, then like a long wave gradually cresting it builds . . . and builds, until it's the driving force of the performance, pushing everything before it. It's a very infectious way of playing, and Dave does it magnificently on BY MYSELF, YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC, A GAL IN CALICO, and the title track, which is the best track on the CD. Sometimes you can literally feel yourself being sucked into the performance, it's that captivating. But McKenna can also tuck that left hand away, hardly use it at all, and play just as effectively. Sometimes, especially on slower ballads, he can be a mere mortal, but turn up the heat slightly and Dave McKenna is right up there with the immortals.

Dave Mckenna's laid back style and complex piano mastery shows through in this collection of good old standard songs. Powerful bass rythmes produced by his left hand, combined with intricate melodies from his right hand make for enjoyable listening.

No one---I repeat, no one---could get as much music out of an unaccompanied piano as Dave McKenna could. He was unique, remarkable, fantastic---please wait here while I get my thesaurus...

Really, though, if you enjoy jazz of any kind, and you haven't heard Dave McKenna, don't hesitate another moment. Get this or any of his other solo CDs and luxuriate in his divine musicality. He's a treasure.