As I wrote in an earlier post, I had known Mike Greensill, on records and in person, as the splendid intuitive pianist / partner of singer Wesla Whitfield, who happens to be his life-partner as well.
But until the 2012 Jazz at Chautauqua, I hadn’t realized how many vibrant selves were packed into Mr. Greensill — someone who can play fine eloquent solo piano or push a band along beautifully; a sweetly earnest singer; an on-the-spot head arranger and effective bandleader; a winning composer . . . as you will see below. It did not hurt Mr. Greensill that he had some of the best players in the world on the stand: Dan Barrett, trombone; Harry Allen, tenor saxophone; Howard Alden, guitar; Frank Tate, string bass; Bill Ransom, drums.
The set had a real Ellingtonian flavor . . . . That didn’t bother us.
JUST SQUEEZE ME:
THEME from SOUNDS LOCAL (explained by the composer)
I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY:
ELLINGTONIA (DON’T YOU KNOW I CARE? – ALL TOO SOON – CHELSEA BRIDGE – WARM VALLEY):
“Beautiful, beautiful!” to quote Mr. Waller.
May your happiness increase.
I dug Greensill at Chautauqua so much, I bought both of his CDs, American Lullaby (’91) & Live at the Plush Room (’04), on Amazon. The 1st is an expensive rarity but features the pianist in duets with the under-recorded SF reed man Noel Jewkes.