James Williams - Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol.42 '1996

Tracks list

This is Vol. 42 of the exhaustive Maybeck Recital Hall project, the last one
that the late Concord founder Carl Jefferson set up and reportedly the final
installment in the series (the hall has since changed ownership). Of course it
must be a coincidence (or is it?) that much of Williams recital sounds like an
affectionate farewell to the room, as most of the selections are taken at ballad
tempo with nostalgic harmonies in the left hand. Indeed, the program closes with
what could be interpreted as a benediction, a 12½-minute Spiritual Medley
where Williams reveals his deep gospel roots at often eloquent length.
Otherwise, Williams pretty much divides its time between pop and jazz standards
and semi-standards, with the opening Polka Dots and Moonbeams setting the
elegiac mood. The program does have its athletic moments -- Joe Hendersons Inner
Urge is a jagged bit of work, and so is Blues Etude -- yet in essence, this CD
is a pleasing, often reflective possible capstone to the long Maybeck project.



Tracks:

01. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Van Heusen) - 8:35
02. Footprints (Shorter) - 5:09
03. Dreamsville (Mancini) - 7:21
04. I Fall in Love Too Easily (Cahn) - 7:45
05. New York (Brown) - 5:51
06. Round Midnight (Monk-Williams) - 4:26
07. Inner Urge (Henderson) - 3:16
08. Street of Dreams (Young-Lewis) - 4:04
09. Blues Etude (Peterson) - 5:12
Spiritual Medley (Trad.)
10. Holy, Holy, Holy - 1:26
11. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child - 4:41
12. Blessed Assurance - 2:07
13. Why We Sing - 4:32

Personnel:

James Williams - piano
Recorded live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, CA on August 27, 1995. 

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