My favorite bass player, David Einhorn, knowing my love
of Sondheim, gifted me Our Time,
Tommy Cecil and Bill Mays’ incredible jazz interpretation of Sondheim’s work. As it is indicated as “Volume 2” I was able
to find their first CD of Sondheim’s music, appropriately called Side by Side. I don’t think I’ve ever written a “plug” for
anything in this space, but I make an exception for these two CDs. (Amazon
carries both.)
 |
| Tommy Cecil and Bill Mays |
They take the beautiful and frequently complex music of
Sondheim to another level (although some of the pieces Sondheim was only the
lyricist), probably the most unique jazz pieces I’ve ever heard. It is an equal partnership between a gifted
bassist and pianist. We’ve seen Bill Mays at the Colony on Palm Beach, intended to go back this year, but learned
that the Colony had cancelled his brunch gigs on Sunday, probably due to financial considerations. He is perhaps one of the best jazz
pianists at work today.
No drummer is necessary for this pair. In fact a drummer
would interfere with their accomplishment, a unique collaboration of two gifted
musicians, their voicing and rhythm just perfect.
Before these two CDs I had collected a series of Sondheim
jazz albums by the Terry Trotter Trio, the only such authorized renditions by
the great man himself, Stephen Sondheim.
I listen to them frequently but now I’m fixated on the innovative work
of Cecil and Mays. Here are the tracks from the two CDs:
Side By Side
(Sondheim Duos)
1 Something's Coming 7:09
2 Not While I'm Around 6:25
3 Broadway Baby 8:00
4 Every Day a Little Death 6:10
5 Ballad of Sweeney Todd 4:50
6 Small World 6:52
7 Side By Side By Side 5:27
8 Anyone Can Whistle 6:28
9 Comedy Tonight 7:06
Our Time (Sondheim
Duos 2)
1 Everybody Says Don't
5:33
2 Johanna 3:44
3 Our Time5:59
4 Moments in the Woods 6:09
5 Finishing the Hat 4:48
6 The Miller's Son 5:55
7 Losing My Mind 4:19
8 The Best Thing That Has Ever Happened 5:44
9 Agony 6:05
10 Being Alive 5:44
11 Rich and Happy 6:08
