Thanksgiving Day 2024; Two Alto sax-Piano duos + One Quartet

 

Been absent from this blog for two months but not for a lack of great new albums but more so for being much too busy. Teaching coillege freshmen as I do is more fun than work; when you add to that the stresses of Middle East War and the horrors perpetrated in the name of freedom, music becomes a much-needed escape but writing does not seem to be enough.

Still, it's Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day for remembering how lucky many of us are. We have a roof over our heads, food to eat, time to read, the ability to walk most streets without fear, heat in our domiciles, lights in our living areas, and, for some, vehicles to take us out into the country.  Today is a good day to get away from the bluster of candidates, especially who treat democracy as a toy to throw in the trash when it displeases, people who flaunt their wealth, shoot off their mouth, point fingers, and make promises to sweep personal freedoms under a big rug.  

Tomorrow, the news will still be bad, the bluster will return yet we have the power to make the world less of a scary place by celebrating and protecting our freedoms, by staring hate in the eyes until it blinks and slinks away. Set an example of doing good and maybe, just maybe others will join you. No matter their religion, gender, political persuasion, we should all understand compassion and how to practice compassionate caring.  Can't hurt to try––the music is always there to fall back onto.

Photo: Jimmy Katz

I've spent a lot of time recently falling back on the music of two saxophonists, Miguel Zenón and Andrew Rathbun. In the case of the former, he has two new duo albums, one with long-time Quartet member pianist Luis Perdomo (pictured left) and the other with friend and duo pianist Dan Tepfer (pictured below).   Perdomo came to the United States from his native Venezuela in 1993 and by the end of that decade, was playing in groups led by Ravi Coltrane and soon became as founding member of Zenón's Quartet.  The pianist and saxophonist both have a love for the folkloric and popular of their home countries (Zenón is from Puerto Rico), both have a love for melody as well as rhythmical variations, and both are brilliant improvisers.  The music created and arranged for the Quartet has travelled a wide swath of territory over the course of 10 albums, winning numerous awards and lavish praise from critics and reviewers around the world.

Six months into the Pandemic, the duo went into the Jazz Gallery in New York City and recorded a program of songs from the Bolero era, a musical style that began in Cuba in the 1890s and, during the 20th Century, spread throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.  Upon its January 2021 release, "El Arte Del Bolero" (Miel Music) was celebrated not only for its musicality but for its gentle persuasions and splendid playing.  Three years later, the duo reconvened in a recording studio with the expression "to play songs we know and love" (Zenón). "El Arte Del Bolero; Volume 2" expands upon its predecessor by expanding its repertoire with songs from Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela.  The seven-song program is a true delight, especially when the duo moves beyond the melody to create fascinating solos. Listen below to "Paula C.", to how how Zenón caresses the melody as Perdomo creates a quiet symphony beneath him.  As the alto saxophonist dances into solo, the pianist is so playful, whimsical at times, beneath the flowing sax but never losing the pulse.  "En La Soledad" (from the fertile mind of Puerto Rican composer Tito Rodriguez: 1923-73) may remind some John Coltrane's "Central Park West" especially due to the rubato feel.  It's a lovely ballad that kisses one's heart.

The album closes with "Silencio"; composed by legendary Puerto Rican songwriter Rafael Hernández (1892-1965), the rapid-fire music belies song title and flows forward on the delightful alto solo atop the dancing piano lines. When Perdomo steps out, you can hear a touch of the New Orleans "Spanish Tinge", especially in his delightful left hand.   

"El Arte Del Bolero" is a joy from start to finish. The duo of Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo reminds us once again of the great music created in the Caribbean and Latin America; they do so with style, grace, and love!

For more information and to purchase the recording, go to https://miguelzenon.bandcamp.com/album/el-arte-del-bolero-vol-2.

Hear the duo play Rubén Blades' "Paula C.":

While the duo of Miguel Zenón and Dan Tepfer has not played together as long as the one reviewed above, these two musicians have improvised numerous times over the past decade-plus. Over two nights in June 2018, they got together at the Yamaha Artists Services in New York City and laid the tracks that make up their first album together. "Internal Melodies" (Main Door Music/self-released) combines the duo's love for spontaneous composition, pieces each composed for the occasion as well as a duo interpretation of "Fanfares" by György Ligeti and a sparkling take of "317 E 32nd St." by Lennie Tristano.

Tepfer is one of the more adventurous pianists of the 21st Century diving into the worlds of classical music, electronic music, and computer music. He's also  a great jazz pianist and, like Zenón, eschews labels. Together, they push each other to create music that is both mentally satisfying but also moves with grace and occasional rhythmic excitement.  The 12-song program opens with the short and totally improvised "Soundsheets" before they embark on the pianist's "The Thing and its Opposite"––after a particularly angular composed melody that the alto saxophonist reads with grace, Tepfer moves into a more ethereal mode. He steps aside and Zenón dances forward alone, phrases building on top of each other without losing sight of the original melody. They return together to the opening melody yet the music feels somewhat lighter. The pianist also composed the title track. The melody has a lightness to it, especially in how Zenón plays through it. Tepfer picks up on that with a solo that hints at Beethoven in how it unfolds gently, steadily building the intensity without overwhelming the mood.

Listen below to the saxophonist's "La Izquerida Latina Americana", to how Tepfer creates a martial rhythm with his left hand before Zenón introduces the melody.  There is a seriocomic feel to the music without falling too hard into either camp.  Zenón's "Centro de Gravedad" is a gentle ballad with a lilting melody line underscored by a mix of powerful chords and gentle piano trills. Tepfer's solo has a flamenco feel, his articulated notes giving the music a sense of drama.  The saxophonist also brought "La Libertad" to the duo; it, too, is a handsome ballad and both musicians create heartfelt solos. 

The album closes with the Tristano classic plus another spontaneous piece "Freedrum".  The former is a delightful romp, the duo bringing out the dancing quality of the rhythm and melody.  The final track combines Tepfer's piano "percussion" with Zenón's playful melody for a short but spirited finish to a wide-ranging program. "Internal Melodies" goes in many directions over the course of an hour but Dan Tepfer and Miguel Zenón never lose their way.  Their musical conversations can be serious or light-hearted; all told, this music is generous in spirit and a delight to listen to!

For more information and to purchase, go to https://dantepfer.bandcamp.com/album/internal-melodies. 

Hear the duo play Zenón's "La Izquerida Latina Americana":

Although alto saxophonist and composer Andrew Rathbun has been recording and touring since the late 1990s, he's still gets recognized a "Rising Star" in recent Downbeat Critics Polls. That's a nice honor but he has created music that needs to be heard by more people. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native has recorded impressive music for labels such as Fresh Sounds New Talent Records, Origin, Centaur, and SteepleChase.  Along the way, he has collaborated with pianists Ran Blake, Jeremy Siskind, and Gary Versace, flugelhornist Kenny Wheeler, drummers Billy Hart, Michael Sarin, Bill Stewart, and Jeff Hirshfield, among others.  

What stands out for this listener is that, since his earliest recordings, Andrew Rathbun has been an excellent composer. He certainly can improvise as impressively as his contemporaries but telling a story with his music is just as important. For his latest SteepleChase recording, "Speed of Time", he's joined by Gary Versace (piano), John Hébert (bass), and Tom Rainey (drums).  While the majority of eight-song program was composed during the Pandemic, this music is written with these musicians in mind, as a group project.  The title track kicks off the album––it's got a funky rhythm, a well-drawn melody, and strong solos from the leader and the pianist.  Rathbun quickly dances away from the melody, creating a playful interaction with the rhythm section pushing up the intensity until Versace takes over building his far-ranging solo off Rainey's herky-jerky rhythms. 

Photo: Domenic Gladstone

The leader plays both tenor and soprano saxophones for the insistent up-tempo jaunt that is "Widen the Doorway".  Versace's solo, at the onset, keeps turning back on itself but soon bounces forward atop the insistent work of Hébert and Rainey. The leader's tenor solo opens unaccompanied and then he jumps upon the rhythm section. More reed overdubs on "Still a Thing"; this time, the soprano leads the way on the melody (although the solo is again on tenor) with the rhythm section creating quite a funky rhythm.  

The soprano is featured on the ballad "Wandering"––in the liner notes, Rathbun pays tribute to the late Wayne Shorter, particularly the "human cry" that the great musician often employed in his playing. There's a sense of urgency in the rhythm section but the deliberate pace never wavers. Excellent solos from pianist and bassist precede the leader's spotlight where Rathbun shows but never overdoes the Shorter influence.  More soprano can be heard on "Velocity Unknown", a fascinating piece in an odd time signature (9/4). Rainey's delicate cymbal dance decorates behind the opening bass solo. Rathbun enters two minutes with his own delicate sound. Every time you think the music will erupt, the quartet gathers themselves and continue their gentle journey forward. The power in this piece comes from Rathbun's powerful solo as well as Versace's impressive improvisation.

"Speed of Time" closes with "Tooth and Nail", an insistent work powered by the active drumming. The piece opens with short exposition from Rainey joined quickly by the tenor sax.  After the quartet push their way through that long introduction, the music jumps forward with the drums and bass stoking the fire for the impressive tenor and piano spots.  This particular track sounds even better at a higher volume, the drums shaking the speakers.

Andrew Rathbun keeps "rising", keeps getting better as a composer and musician––this album is yet another fine example of his musicality and creativity.

For more information, go to https://andrewrathbun.com/. 

Here's the title track:

A Life in the Day

Photo: Emra Islek

Hard to believe that it's been five years since Rudy Royston debuted his Flatbed Buggy quintet, the ensemble that includes John Ellis (bass clarinet), Gary Versace (accordion), Hank Roberts (cello), and Joe Martin (acoustic bass).  The group's self-titled debut (issued by Greenleaf Music) certainly surprised a majority of the drummer/composer's fanbase in that the contents were far more than a "blowing session"; instead one heard a series of song stories that reflected Royston's upbringing in Texas and the images that invoked in his mind.  The music felt more "Americana", in line with the music that the drummer was playing in Bill Frisell's ensemble.  

"Day" (Greenleaf Music) reunites the band post-Pandemic.  The 10-song program (eight by Royston with one each from Martin and Roberts) finds an ensemble comfortable in taking chances, pushing at the edges of composition to create not only delightful interplay but also strong solos.  We move through the "Day" starting with "Morning", a melody that stretches out played over time by each musician.  When Ellis lays down a rhythmical bass clarinet line that the other members of the band add their voices to, one gets the sense the group is "riffing" on Aaron Copland––Roberts' fine solo takes its cue from the bass clarinet line before Versace pushes the forward in a dialogue with Ellis. All the while, the rhythm section dances with abandon.  "Thank You For This Day" opens with the cello melody that turns into rhythmical strumming over Martin's pulsating bass and the dancing high hat. Then, listen as the melody and solos unfold off the rollicking opening.

This album finds the quintet in more of a "barn dance" mode much of the time. "Five-Thirty Strut" kicks off with a melodic drum solo but then gets down and funky. Notice how Martin and Roberts lock into the groove (listen below and try to sit still) then get "jazzy" beneath Ellis's solo. Kudos to sound engineer and mixer for the clarity of the sound throughout the album.  "Keep It Moving" is still funky but slinkier as well, the well-drawn melody moving atop a delicious "walking bass" line.  Then, the cello play in unison for a while before a quick stop and into Martin's fine bass solo (hints of Charles Mingus's "Haitian Fight Song" in there). 

Photo: R Royston

The album closes with Royston's short prayer-ballad "Time to Sleep" before moving into Robert's "A.M. Hours", a playful creep down the stairs for a late-night snack.  The tip-toe quality of the melody is echoed in the cello and bass lines while the accordion watches from the top of the stairs with the bass clarinet looking over its shoulder.  The drummer and his trap set sit this tune out, perhaps sleeping while the spirits play.

No matter what, "Day" is a splendid album, music for a breezy day, for a Summer night, sounds that caress and play with the listener like a good friend. Rudy Royston continues to grow as an artist, facilitator, arranger, and composer: Flatbed Buggy now seems to be his central mode of musical transportation and you should climb aboard!

For more information, go to www.rudyroyston.com.  To hear more and purchase the album, go to https://rudyroyston.bandcamp.com/album/day.

Put on your dancing shoes for "Five-Thirty Strut":

Songs We Sing, Songs We Play

Photo: Mercedes Jelinek

John Hollenbeck, a composer, arranger, bandleader, drummer, percussionist, Professor, and now a label owner (more below), received a commission in 2010 from the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and began a project he called "Songs I Like a Lot"(Sunnyside Records).  He enlisted vocalists Kate McGarry and Theo Bleckmann plus pianist Gary Versace. The album was issued in 2011 featuring songs by Jimmy Webb, Ornette Coleman, Queen, and more.  Four years later, the entourage reassembled (Uri Caine taking over the piano choir for all but one track) and issued "Songs We Like a Lot" (also Sunnyside). That album included songs by Burt Bacharach/ Hal David, Cyndi Lauper, and others including two Hollenbeck originals. At that time, Hollenbeck said that the project would be a trilogy with fans around the world sending in suggestions for the final installment.

For this album, Ms. McGarry and Mr.Bleckmann built a list of the Top 20 vote getters and, without the drummer's input, chose seven songs.  Not surprisingly, the new album is titled "Songs You Like a Lot" and is issued on Hollenbeck's newly-formed Flexatonic Records label (available through Bandcamp with all profits going to Black Lives Matter).  Everyone is back with Versace on all eight tracks. The eight-song program (one Hollenbeck original) ranges from the traditional folk song "Down To The River to Pray" to The Bee Gee's "How Deep Is Your Love" plus James Taylor's "Fire and Rain", "Pure Imagination" (from the original "Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" movie, and a fascinating deconstruction of the Brain Wilson classic "God Only Knows", titled here "Knows Only God."

Starting with The Beach Boys tune (that closes the album), Hollenbeck the arranger switches sentences around, speeds up the tempo, uses Versace's organ to shadow the vocals, and the reeds and brass for fluttering colors, powerful blasts, and thumping beats.  On initial listens, the song is off-putting but subsequent listens unveil brilliant new harmonies and reveals the emotions. The fiery ending is a gas.  The performance is truly a tour-de-force!

Photo: Bill Douthart

No matter how you feel about The Bee Gees, Hollenbeck reinvents "How Deep Is Your Love" with the reeds playing Steve Reich-like figures along with the guitar. Both vocalists embrace the melody and lyrics with great emotion but never overdue. Ms. McGarry and Mr. Bleckmann sing one of the choruses in unison, the latter's falsetto absolutely beautiful.  Steffen Webber's powerful tenor saxophone solo kicks the band up a notch.  The lone trumpet of Axel Schlosser kicks off Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up", sounding like a tribute to the composer's songs for Genesis.  When the voices come in (Ms. McGarry has the Gabriel part while Mr. Bleckmann takes the place of Kate Bush), the song changes directions. Note the lovely deep brass and organ plus the sweet soprano sax right before the soulful/ gospel section sung by Ms. McGarry.  The ending is a hoot, a "revival meeting" powered by the playful electric bass of Hans Glawischnig and the repetitive "Don't Give Up."

The opening track, the traditional "Down to The River...", is a piece you will play over and over.  There is so much going on yet the piece never feels cluttered. Listen for the vocal harmonies, the fine solos (acoustic bass, piano, and Martin Scales on guitar), how the melody and background changes each time through the simple homily/ verse culminating in full band sound that resembles the Shaker Hymn rearranged by Aaron Copland for his "Appalachian Spring."

Each album in the trilogy, all available digitally through Flexatonic Records (link is below), is filled with intelligent arrangements, brilliant vocals, impeccable musicianship, and the overall emotion that music, whether familiar or not, can bring the listener a sense of wonder, feelings of joy, and hope for better times.  Kudos to John Hollenbeck, brava to Kate McGarry, Theo Bleckmann, Gary Versace, and the Frankfurt Radio Big Band––savor all these sounds.

For more information, go to https://johnhollenbeck.com.  To purchase the music from Flexitonic, go to https://johnhollenbeck.bandcamp.com/album/songs-you-like-a-lot.

Here's the Peter Gabriel song:



Personnel:

John Hollenbeck composer, arranger, conductor 

Theo Bleckmann · voice 
Kate McGarry · voice 
Gary Versace · piano, organ 

Frankfurt Radio Big Band 

Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn · alto/soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute 
Oliver Leicht · alto/soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo 
Ben Kraef · tenor/soprano saxophone, flute 
Steffen Weber · tenor/soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute 
Rainer Heute · bari/bass saxophone, Bb/bass/contra-bass clarinet, flute 

Frank Wellert · trumpet/flugelhorn 
Thomas Vogel · trumpet/flugelhorn 
Martin Auer · trumpet/flugelhorn 
Axel Schlosser · trumpet/flugelhorn 

Christian Jaksjø · trombone 
Felix Fromm · trombone 
Shannon Barnett · trombone 
Manfred Honetschläger · bass trombone 

Martin Scales · guitar 
Hans Glawischnig · bass 
Jean Paul Höchstädter · drums 
Special guest: Claus Kiesselbach · mallet percussion, timpani 

Photo: D'Addario Woodwinds

Massachusetts native, saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger, and educator Dave Pietro moved to New York City in 1987. Over the past 33 years, he has worked with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Darcy James Argue Secret Society, and spent 1994-2016 as the lead alto saxophonist in the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. His list of sideman gigs ranges from jazz acts to pop/ rock singers to studying and performing East Indian music with tabla master Sandip Burman.  Pietro has issued seven CDs as a leader, the most recent "New Road: Iowa Memoirs" crowd-financed through ArtistShare. For that album, he convened a group that included Alex Sipiagin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gary Versace (piano), Johannes Weidenmueller (bass), and Johnathan Blake (drums) with perciusionist Rogerio Boccato contributing on percussion.

Those same musicians, plus trombonist Ryan Keberle, reconvened in June of 2019 to record Prieto's new ArtistShare album "Hypersphere."  The title refers to multi-dimensional sphere of four or more dimensions––if you are curious, click here.  These musicians are all first-class improvisors and Prieto writes to their strengths.  But, this is not merely a "blowing" album. The leader writes intelligent, well-constructed, melodies with smart harmonies plus the music often gives the rhythm section the opportunity to determine the flow. Listen to how he makes the six or seven piece ensemble (Boccato appears on six of the nine tracks while Keberle plays on five) sound like a 10 or 12 piece band with his fine voicings and overlapping melodies on many of the themes.  When he and Sipiagin blend their voices (as they do on the title track and on "Incandescent"), the songs remind this writer somewhat of the Andrew Hill especially on his 1999 Palmetto album "Dusk".  Blake, who now plays alongside the saxophonist, Versace, and Keberle in the Maria Schneider aggregation, is a powerhouse throughout the recording.  Just listen to how he and Weidenmueller combine to push the ensemble forward on "Quantum Entanglement" as well as on the opening track "Kakistocracy."

Photo: Jimmy & Dena Katz

The opening of "Boulder Snowfall" features overdubbed flute. Following the intro, Pietro takes off on a long, delightful, solo that uses the song's melody as a touchstone. Versace's richly melodic solo starts as a duet with bassist Weidenmueller that soon adds Blake to the mix––the three rides the rhythmic waves for several minutes.  The chiming sounds of an electric piano leads the ensemble into "Tales of Mendacity" which is a musical comment on the attack on truth going on all around us.  The blend of Blake's martial drumming and the gently chiming electric piano underneath Pietro's flowing solo is a highlight of the first half leading into Sipiagin's dancing solo.

The album closes with "Orison", an archaic word for "prayer".  After a handsome solo bass intro,
Boccato's bells and hand percussion plus Blakes's exploration around the drum kit underpin the lovely three-way melody.  Keberle steps into his short, yet, heartfelt solo, joined half-way through in conversation by Sipiagin's flugelhorn––Pietro on soprano sax and Versace's acoustic piano join the those voices until the four parts join together in melody while the drums create a righteous storm.

"Hypersphere" is intelligent, often powerful, music, an album that blends strong compositions with excellent musicianship without sounding technical or emotionless.  Dave Pietro, the composer, is responding to the world around, to the crazy shifts in politics and, in hindsight, in global health, reminding us we are stronger when working together than standing apart.

For more information, go to www.davepietro.com. To purchase the album, go to https://www.artistshare.com/Projects/Experience/361/515/1/Dave-Pietro-Hypersphere?v=2 or to https://davepietro.bandcamp.com.

Listen to the evocative ballad "Boulder Snowfall":

All You Need......

These days, it seems the world is louder than it's ever been. Many people blame the acidic political climate, the acerbic comments from on high and in the various forms of media that crowd our pockets and desktops.

Creative music reflects our times.  "Protest" songs comes from rap artists, from modern country artists;  jazz musicians respond today as Max Roach and Charles Mingus did in the late 1950s and1960s and the song/stories created by Gil Scott-Heron in the 1970s.  Musicians and composers feel the need to live in the present and to connect with as many people as possible. The airwaves are cluttered, the choices are many, yet the messages are often drowned by the collective apathy.

Pledge Music

What to make of "The Subject Tonight is Love"?  It's the new album from the trio of Kate McGarry (vocals), Keith Ganz (guitar, acoustic bass guitar), and Gary Versace (piano, electric piano, organ, accordion). The project, crowd-funded through Pledge Music and self-released on the artists' Binxtown Records, is an intimate project conceived by three friends who have worked together closely over the past decade or so (certainly on the past three albums Ms. McGarry released on Palmetto).  It's my belief that this music is a response to the harsh noises of the past several years, to the rancor one sees in many social interactions, not in the manner of the psychedelic 60s "Peace & Love" but as adult artists finding that true "repair" starts at home and moves outward.

The program is an enchanting, challenging, rewarding, and, in the long run, soul-satisfying experience.  The "Prologue", really the title track, is an original melody by Ganz with lyrics from the 14th Century Persian poet Hafiz (1319-1390?) sets the stage: "The subject tonight is Love/ And for tomorrow night as well,/ As a matter of fact/ I know of no better topic For us to discuss/ Until we all Die!"  All the songs deal with the various forms in which people love and live, from courageous to fleeting to fractured to new love to maternal love and more.  Seven of the 12 tracks are standards. Most of them should be familiar but what the trio does with the music is quite magical.  There's the beauty of "Secret Love", opening with the the whispery vocal over the nylon string guitar and then Versace entering with counterpoint.  The jazzy take of "Gone With The Wind" (from the pen of Allie Wrubel and Herb Magidson) opens nicely into a delightful piano solo with excellent support from Ganz's acoustic bass guitar.  Ms McGarry's playful vocal is a real treat as she moves in and out of melody and "scat" syllables.  "My Funny Valentine" is amazing (listen below), from the arrangement of the guitar, bass, and keyboards to the honesty and vulnerability in the vocal.  Is the singer wistful, hopeful, fretful, pleading, or all of that and more.  All this can be heard as well in the instrumental work. Pay attention to the heartfelt "Fair Weather", composed by Benny Golson and Kenny Dorham, known as well for a brilliant recording by Chet Baker. It's such a handsome melody with lyrics that speak of equality composed at a time - 1958 - when the Civil Rights Movement was beginning to be noticed in the United States. Of course, 60 years later and the message is still poignant and still on point.  There is also is a sweet take of Egberto Gismonti's "Palhaço" - Geraldo Carneiro wrote the original Portuguese lyrics while this version, retitled "Playing Palhaço", has English lyrics by Jo Lawry.  

There are three pieces with original lyrics from Ms McGarry, one of which, "Climb Down", addresses her Irish ancestors and the issues they had on both sides of the Atlantic. The music may remind some of the work of Robbie Robertson and Dick Connette (Last Forever) but with a hefty blues edge.  The vocalist's "Losing Strategy #4" is about lost love and turning the blame away from one's self and how that always fails.  The lovely piano, bass guitar, and accordion accompaniment sets a lonely tone that resonates long after the song fades.  The third original "She Always Will" looks at life, our many decisions that lead us to roads we may never expected to take; yet, this could also be a dream or a reflection the composer had standing by a pond or sitting on the porch by herself.

There are playful moments, songs where Ms. McGarry's voice soars over the organ, piano, and guitar (such as "What a Difference a Day Made") - everyone sound like they are having such fun.  Perhaps it's the freedom that "doing it yourself" brings, that you're making the music you have always wanted to make, taking chances you always wanted to take, and that there is an audience who appreciates what you, will support you and embrace your stories.  Kate McGarry, Keith Ganz, and Gary Versace actually recorded 30 songs as they were preparing "The Subject Tonight is Love", such an exciting prospect that the sessions certainly yielded more delightful musical stories, more aural support, smiles, and, even tears.  

This is music to climb inside of and take to your heart. Really, just give in. It's good to smile!

For more information, go to www.katemcgarry.com.

Enjoy this piece!