FAREWELL MARIAN AND THANKS FOR THE MUSIC!

MARIAN McPARTLAND  – AMBIANCE 

Halcyon Records, USA, 1975

I just read on the news that Marian McPartland died yesterday.  She was 95.  A great old lady of jazz piano.  She could be an adventurous musician as this album demonstrates.

Originally recorded for her Halcyon label, this unusual set by pianist Marian McPartland finds her playing quite free in spots. Her interplay with bassist Michael Moore and drummer Jimmy Madison (Billy Hart takes Madison's place on two numbers) is very alert, sometimes almost telepathic, and much more adventurous than one might expect. 

Five of the 11 selections are by McPartland, and four are by Moore, but even the standards ("What Is This Thing Called Love" and "Three Little Words") sound as if they are being performed by lyrical avant-gardists. Fascinating music worthy of several listens.

(source AMG).

Tracks

1.         What Is This Thing Called Love?    Cole Porter     6:03

2          Aspen Marian McPartland  3:08

3          Sounds Like Seven   Michael Moore          3:50

4          Ambiance       Marian McPartland  3:33

5          Rime   Michael Moore          4:16

6          Three Little Words   Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby   3:29

7          Hide and Seek With the Bombay Bicycle Club     Michael Moore          4:01

8          Afterglow       Marian McPartland  4:39

9          Lost One        Marian McPartland  3:55

10        The Wisdom of the Heart    Michael Moore          2:47

11         Glimpse          Marian McPartland  6:37

It was reissued as a Jazz Alliance CD in 1995 (OOP).  The rip is from an original Halcyon LP found in the medina in Rabat, amazing what I've found here over the years!  Expect some surface noise but it’s perfectly listenable.