Dorothy Donegan - Live At The Floating Jazz Festival (1990)

The remarkable pianist Dorothy Donegan, who has been overlooked by many jazz fans and critics for decades, is heard in a typically exciting and occasionally riotous live session recorded on the SS Norway. Followed by bassist Jon Burr (who has to work hard to keep up with Donegan's many spontaneous changes of direction) and drummer Ray Mosca, Donegan performs a varied set that includes a few eccentric medleys (including one of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Tiger Rag" and another that combines together "Misty" and "Caravan"), an odd tribute to "Lena, Eartha, Pearl & Billie" and her "Blackbird Boogie." Switching between bop, boogie-woogie, stride and classical music, Dorothy Donegan puts on a colorful show. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Chiaroscuro Records, CR(D) 312, 1991
Recorded 29th October-2nd November, 1990 Live At The 1990 Floating Jazz Festival 

Musicians:
Dorothy Donegan - Piano
John Burr - Bass
Ray Mosca - Drums

Tracks:
01. My Funny Valentine {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:21)
02. Misty {Erroll Garner} / Caravan {Ellington, Tizol, Mills} (10:20)
03. Someday My Prince Will Come {Churchill, Morey} / Tiger Rag Medley (11:37)
04. Lena, Eartha, Pearl & Billie {Dorothy Donegan} (7:54)
05. Who Can I Turn To? {Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (5:43)
06. The Lady Is A Tramp {Rodgers, Hart} / Autumn Leaves {Mercer, Prévert, Kosma} (5:23)
07. After Hours {Erskine Hawkins, Avery Parrish} (4:46)
08. 'Round Midnight {Hanighen, Monk, Williams} / Gershwin Medley {Gershwin} (13:46)
09. Remarks To Audience (1:32)
10. Blackbird Boogie {Dorothy Donegan} (3:24)
11. Jazzspeak {Dorothy Donegan} (7:24) 

Total Time: 76:10 

Credits:
Producer - Hank O'Neal, Shelley M. Shier
Producer, Liner Notes - Hank O'Neal
Engineer, Digital Editing, Mastering - Jon Bates
Photography - Arthur Elgort
Design, Cover Design - John DeVries
Liner Notes - Illinois Jacquet 

All excessive applause was carefully trimmed and faded out to enhance listening pleasure.

Link

Who Can I Turn To?

Don Ewell

I just can't say enough about this album - a real gem.  Ewell is a name often attached to "Dixieland" via his work with the Dukes.  We also associate "Stride" with him because of his incredible style.

The fact is, those are both horrendous cliches which do nothing to really describe Don Ewell.  This self titled release for Chiaroscuro shows us that you simply can't put this pianist in a box.  For the sake of giving you something to relate him with, I would go with Traditional / NOLA jazz.

The music is bluesy, hard swingin and always joyous no matter the tempo or tune. This album is perfect, all the way through.  You won't find any filler or musical misgivings here, instead, we are given sides which display the best jazz has to offer.

Side 1 is a trio with Hall & Leeman, while side 2 is a quartet with Tate, Duvivier & Leeman.  The sidemen bring their A-game to these tunes, and are given plenty of room to shine.  Ewell himself gives us every reason to believe he is one of the more underrated pianists of his time.  It would be easy to overlook this album from it's unexciting cover, to it's 70's publishing date... but that would be a large mistake.  From start to finish this record delivers on all fronts and leaves you feeling upbeat.

I ripped this minty vinyl at 24/48 wav and transferred it to 24/48 FLAC for your convenience.  Superb stereo recording... enjoy!!!

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Chiaroscuro Records ‎– CR 130
1974

A1 Sweethearts On Parade
A2 Creole Love Call
A3 Diane
A4 Apex Blues
A5 All By Myself
B1 Coquette
B2 It Must Be True
B3 Let´s Fall In Love
B4 I Cover The Waterfront

Bass – George Duvivier (tracks: B1 to B4)
Clarinet – Herb Hall (tracks: A1 to A5)
Drums – Cliff Leeman
Piano – Don Ewell
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate (tracks: B1 to B4)