The only mournful thing about the music that follows is that it’s the last set of two divine concerts by this happy group — Rossano and Stephanie, piano; Nicki, vocal and string bass; Hal, drums — that took place at Dominican University, San Rafael (July 28) and at extraordinary Filoli, Woodside (July 29).
Rossano and Nicki began this set with a patented Sportiello – Parrott Extravaganza, which took in SCENES FROM CHILDHOOD, a bit of Bach, LULLABY OF BIRDLAND, and more. I’ve called it JAZZ MEETS THE CLASSICS, and it’s a wondrous ride:
For something more familiar by this stellar group, Henri Woode’s ROSETTA:
And that 1930 celebration of love found at last, EXACTLY LIKE YOU:
Stephanie is the least threatening of mortals, so it’s amusing that she plays Pete Johnson’s ominously-named DEATH RAY BOOGIE (had Mr. Johnson been reading Thirties science-fiction in pulp magazines, I wonder?):
She goes to town on Fats Waller’s MINOR DRAG:
Who knew Nicki was so deeply involved in Yiddischkeit? Hear for yourself — BEI MIR BIS DU SCHOEN:
And the question remains — posed with such insouciant swing by Nicki — IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN’T MY BABY?:
The appropriate finale was AFTER YOU’VE GONE:
But the wise crowd didn’t want to let these four players out of their sight, so the quartet baked a delicious two-layer cake of an encore, TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE- LIZA:
Now, who among us will begin to book the global concert tour for this group? They and the rest of the world surely deserve it.
May your happiness increase.
JAZZ LIVES 