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My Shining Hour is an hour of jazz for the world to hear and enjoy: a collection of my favorite songs, mostly written between 1940 and 1960. It is intended as a companion project to my first ZOHO CD release “Whisper Not” (ZOHO ZM 202402) where I was heading a swinging organ trio and playing tenor sax. For this album, I chose a quartet setting grouped around pianist George Grund who has been a Lehigh Valley, PA staple. He is one of the best players I have met since moving out here, and I tapped him for this recording.
There seems to be a desire in a musician’s life to return to one's musical roots. This was the pull for me to revisit my baritone sax. It was my first sax in high school, and my only sax entering college in 1979. The desire for professional work compelled me to add alto and tenor saxes. It paid off, and I was able to sustain being a musician. My first notable band on baritone sax was as a founding member of the long standing Long Island, NY based Funk Filharmonic, 1985-88. I acquired the Yamaha model 61 baritone heard on this record during that run.
You Stepped Out of a Dream is a tune that our bassist Roy Cumming would often call on our gigs. I chose a straight eight groove to make it cook and Rudy was up for it.
The Cole Porter classic All of You has that mysterious feel that is helped along by that suspenseful pedal in the bass, and the long-awaited release from it.
Everything Happens to Me was the perfect ballad for the plaintive low register of the baritone, and Roy's favorite take of this session.
On My Shining Hour, we did a few not quite successful takes with the quartet, so I paired it down to a duo with Rudy Petschauer on dfrums, and it it became my favorite take of the session!
Joy Spring was a tune we just called at this recording session, and its intricate melody took me a few takes to get under my hands.
On Invitation, I asked Rudy for a 6/8 groove. I liked the result!
If You Could See Me Now is a lyrical ballad composed by Tadd Dameron for the young Sarah Vaughn.
The famous Brazilian Bossa Nova Once I Loved ("O Amor Em Paz") is another Jobim call penned by a master of harmony and lyricism.
Confirmation is a tune that shows the complexity of the bebop line, written by Charlie Parker in 1945.
Desafinado (“Off Key”) is a Brazilian tune by Jobim which Roy and I got together on our gigs, so we learned it on the bandstand.
Tangerine is an upbeat tune that tests the baritone player’s lyrical capabilities, and show a player's unique style.
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Hi Fly is a 1950s tune by Randy Weston with a unique feel in its staccato A section and legato bridge.
A pop song written in 1941 that became a jazz standard, I Hear a Rhapsody shifts neatly through minor and major keys, in a way that gives neither a lean.
The famous 1943 popular standard It Could Happen to You has a story in mind, and lets the musician unfold that plot as it winds its way through.
Recorded at Red Rock Recording, Saylorsburg, PA in November 2023. Engineer, Mixing and Mastering: Kent Heckman. Producers: Paul Kendall, Joachim “Jochen” Becker. Paul Kendall photo: Ron Schwerin. Art direction and package design: Jack Frisch. Executive Producers: Paul Kendall, Joachim “Jochen” Becker.
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