Customer Reviews

From This Moment on

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This was Marian's first album for Concord Jazz -- recorded just after her NPR radio show was launched -- and she was ready for it! She had lived and played through swing, Chicago-style Jazz with her husband cornetist Jimmy McPartland, her long-playing stint at the Hickory House in New York, Bop, Cool Jazz and the freer, more experimental 70's college campus jazz circuit and women's jazz festivals. If you look at the landmark photo, "A Great Day in Harlem" there are only three women in that picture: Maxine Sullivan, Mary Lou Williams and Marian. They always said Marian had three counts against her: She was British, white and a woman. After running her own label in the sixties and early seventies, Concord finally realized what a find she was. Here she plays with a passion and a drive seldom heard from any player male or female. She rides the harmonic and chordal wave of Bill Evans and takes it to the next level. There's more going on in one of Marian's rich, dense chords here than in the entire Top 40. With that, this two-handed pianist can swing like crazy. She never loses sight of the melody or the lyrics while she plays her instrumentals. The ingenious approach to "From This Moment On" redefines the tune and "Emily" is a ballad that will rip your heart out. There's a reason that this album has never been out of print since it was released at the end of the 70's. If you like beautiful music, swinging jazz and a brilliantly paced set with first-rate musicians and a leader with a first-rate mind and the angels on her hands, here you go.

This is great stuff here. Being a jazz pianist, I have worked up and played a few of these tunes in performance, and they are a fun challenge. Marian is an awesome player, and I would say this is probably my favorite CD of hers. I highly recommend it!

Marian McPartland, whose Piano Jazz program on National Public Radio has been a huge success, is an overlooked jazz pianist. Why? Could it be because she's a woman? Could it be because she just hasn't had the exposure that someone like Renee Rosnes has had? Possibly, but forget everything you know for a minute and let me talk about the music on "From This Moment On."

It is probably one of the finest trio records of her long career. Her approach to harmony is absolutely inspiring. There's a reason she hosts a show called "Piano Jazz," because she's an absolute master player. She swings like mad too. Joining McPartland are two sympathic musicians: Brian Torff (bass), and Jake Hanna (drums). Each are great, great players.

I highly recommend this album to fans of jazz piano. I also recommend checking out:

Silent Pool
Plays The Benny Carter Songbook
Portrait Of Marian McPartland (apart of a 2-cd package called "Windows")
Personal Choice

This album will always have a special meaning for me and my wife. It was the CD we played over and over again during a recent stay in Paris. It lacked its CD cover, so I copied the title from the disc itself. The CD itself can be as intrusive as the listener wants. Alone, there is much to savor. I read a great deal, and outside noises often prove distracting. This CD forms the most non-intrusive background I have ever encountered. Even after the CD becomes intimately familiar, the degree of focus on the part of the listener is more than satisfactory at both ranges. Also unlike many CD's, repeated playings remain fresh yet familiar.

This is a great showcase for McPartland's interpretations of songs. I gave the CD to one of my adult piano students who drove around in her car getting inspired by it. The songs are the best & I should've gotten myself a copy. If you like jazz & solo piano, you should get this absolutely wonderful CD.

Always love Marian McPartland and once again, this CD does not disappoint. Beautiful music, played only the way she can do it.