"DEAR JO"

Phil Parnell Parnell piano; Dave Green double bass; Paul Clarvis pcn; Johnny Vidacovich drums.

Recorded Intimate Studios, London, 1-3 Oct 1996. SLAMCD 227

Bar code 5 028386 022725

TRACKS:

1   This here                                    6m 43

2   The touch of your lips                   5   29

3   Flight at the end of the tunnel        5   04

4   Trombone Jones                           4   49

5   Minor bird                                    5   51

6   Dear Jo                                       4   55

7   We’ll be together again                  4   38

8   Jouet                                         5   12

9   Doctor Jazz                                 5   45

10  My man’s gone                            4   34

11  Sweet Lorraine                            4   00

The Guardian 14 Feb 1998 Jazz piano from New Orleans makes one expect rolling rhythms, punched out with a declamatory touch andlots of bluesy overtones.  Phil Parnell studied with modern pianomaster, Ellis Marsalis, and carried on at Berklee College.  But his album, Dear Jo, doesn't neglect the city's more characteristic sounds, even down to a version of Doctor Jazz, written by King Oliver and immortalised by Jelly Roll Morton.  As on record, his group includes his compatriot Johnny Vidacovich on drums.

The Herald, 31 Jan 1998 A former pupil of Ellis Marsalis and a disciple of the Bobby Timmons/Billy Taylor gospel-groove school experienced in the myriad musics New Orleans can offer, Parnell gathers all this together on compelling originals and thoughtful standards.  Clear keyboard ideas and sympathetic work from a quartet including bassist Dave Green result in a satisfying collection of big swinging piano jazz.  Rob Adams