Playing at Maybeck Recital Hall before a small but attentive crowd seems to bring out the best in many pianists. Stanley Cowell performs a well-planned program of 14 selections on this 1990 CD. On a two-minute "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise," Cowell runs through all twelve keys. He pays tribute to the stride-piano tradition on "Stompin' at the Savoy," explores some bop, Latin-jazz (a transformed "Autumn Leaves") and post bop music, plays "Jitterbug Waltz" in the style of Art Tatum, inteprets "Stella by Starlight" in 5/4 time and performs J.J. Johnson's "Lament" with just his left hand. A very interesting recital. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
01. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise (Sigmund Romberg / Oscar Hammerstein II)
02. Stompin’ at the Savoy (B. Goodman/E. Sampson/C. Webb/A. Razaf)
03. I Am Waiting (Stanley Cowell)
04. Nefertiti (Wayne Shorter)
05. Jitterbug Waltz (Fats Waller/Richard Maltby, Jr.)
06. Stella by Starlight (Ned Washington/Victor Young)
07. I’ll Remember April (Gene DePaul/Don Raye/Patricia Johnston
08. Lament (J.J. Johnson)
09. Out of This World (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer)
10. Django (John Lewis)
11. Big Foot (Charlie Parker)
12. Little Sunny (Stanley Cowell)
13. Autumn Leaves (Johnny Mercer/Jacques Prèvert/Joseph Kosma)
14. Cal Massey (Stanley Cowell)
STANLEY COWELL piano
Recorded live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, CA June 1990
Concord Jazz Records CCD - 4431