Blues Up

Review

by Michael G. Nastos

In case you haven't heard, Dave McKenna is one of the most remarkable jazz pianists in the history of the music, further evidenced by this wonderful solo recording, taken from the original 1955 ABC-Paramount LP Solo Piano and the 1963 Realm release Lullabies in Jazz. McKenna's expertise in mixing the stride style into any jazz standard cannot be more fully demonstrated. The first 15 tracks are from the 1955 date, where his ability to swing and stretch out would be hard for anyone to match, much less exceed. There's only one original, the jazz-blues-bop jam "Blues Up." McKenna waxes serene on three selections, is atypically delicate during "My Shining Hour," and mixes patient to animated tempos for "Limehouse Blues." On the rest, he plays consistent rhythms, especially effective on the bouncy "S'posin'," the dramatic intro before digging in for "'S Wonderful," and the uppity "Let's Get Away from It All." McKenna's consistency in playing deft, accurate melodies and effortless stride is evident with every note and phrase. The remaining tracks are indeed lullabies and are lower key, ranging from the childlike "Brahms' Lullaby" to the darker "Deep Night," the somnambulant "Deep in a …  » Read more

Tracks

				Title	Composer	Time
		1		Why Was I Born?	Hammerstein, Kern, Kern	2:16
		2		Smoke Gets in Your Eyes	Harbach, Kern	3:17
		3		Blues Up	McKenna	2:27
		4		Walking by the River	Carlisle, Sour	3:04
		5		S'posin'	Denniker, Razaf	2:44
		6		If I Had My Way	James, Klein	3:46
		7		'S Wonderful	Gershwin, Gershwin	2:52
		8		My Shining Hour	Arlen, Mercer	3:08
		9		'Deed I Do	Hirsch, Rose	2:28
		10		Like Someone in Love	Burke, VanHeusen	3:48
		11		Let's Get Away from It All	Adair, Dennis	2:15
		12		I'm Glad I Waited for You	Cahn, Styne	2:04
		13		For All We Know	Coots, Lewis	2:44
		14		Warm Valley	Ellington	2:47
		15		Limehouse Blues	Braham, Furber	2:04
		16		Sleepy Waltz	McKenna	2:50
		17		Dream	Mercer	3:18
		18		Lullaby of the Leaves	Petkere, Young	2:49
		19		Lullaby	McKenna	2:39
		20		Close Your Eyes	Petkere	1:49
		21		Brahms' Lullaby	Brahms	1:54
		22		Deep Night	Henderson, Vallee	3:07
		23		Deep in a Dream	DeLange, VanHeusen	3:59
		24		Lullaby in Blue	McKenna	2:37
		25		Japanese Sandman	Egan, Whiting	2:30
		26		Lullaby in Rhythm	Goodman, Sampson	2:42
		27		Sleep	Lebieg	1:38

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