Recorded at Denver’s Mighty Fine Studio, this follows After The Rain, a non-studio streaming performance recorded during the pandemic with pianist Eric Gunnison. After some more gigs with Eric, Mark Simon (bass) and Todd Reid (drums), creme de la creme of Denver jazz musicians, a studio recording seemed in order. We recorded the tracks in 2 three-hour sessions, usually with one or two takes. Alejandro Castaño, another superb percussionist, did session 2. I’m pleased with how the sessions turned out and owe special thanks to the superb engineering talents of Colin Bricker and to Linda Filby-Fisher for use of her artwork. Reincarnation Of A Lovebird is a composition by Charles Mingus and title of an album recorded in 1960. In the liner notes, Mingus said it was a piece about Bird (Charlie Parker), although initially he didn’t realize it. A few years ago, while performing some of Mingus’ music, I became enamored of Reincarnation with its unique melody and structure, which Mingus said was very different from the tunes Bird played. For me, the music is driving, emotional and, with its uniqueness, seemed to work as a title for the CD. As I searched for complementary artwork, I thought of my friend and artist, Linda Filby-Fisher, whose “OFFERING Medicine Wheel series [©LF-F2010]: He offers his gifts; the universe is changed” (www.lindafilby-fisher.com), thematically reflects what Bird’s music did to jazz.

Three Flowers by McCoy Tyner was released on his 1964 Impulse album Today and Tomorrow. The personnel, among others, included Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison, legendary members along with McCoy of the iconic John Coltrane Quartet. I really enjoy our version; the tempo, lyricism of the chords, melody, and solos have me listening again and again.

Monk’s Mood from the album, Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall, was recorded in 1957. The original tape was stored for decades at the Library of Congress, then digitized and released by Blue Note in 2005. Newsweek referred to it as a “musical equivalent of the discovery of a new Mount Everest”. Our version, similar to the original, has Eric with his interpretation of the melody comprising the first chorus, while I join on the second together with additions from Mark and Todd. Although called a ballad by some, for me it’s a dialogue between the piano and saxophone over a lovely set of chords.

Isfahan, named for the Iranian city, was composed by Billy Strayhorn for Duke Ellington's 1967 album The Far East Suite (Bluebird/RCA). Originally entitled Elf, it was renamed for the band’s 1966 world tour. The original version features the beautiful sound of alto saxophonist, Johnny Hodges. I first heard it played by Kenny Baron on his album, The Source, and during his 2023 performance in Denver. In Strayhorn tradition, it’s a beautiful melody that moves with chromatic increments amongst a rich chord structure. Beginning quietly in a walking tempo, it gains momentum and, like Three Flowers, can make you smile, close your eyes and move with the rhythm.

In Walked Bud, a 1947 composition by Thelonious Monk, was first released by Blue Note on Monk’s Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1. It was a tribute to his friend and pianist, Bud Powell, who, according to Monk, had been severely beaten by police in a raid on the Savoy Ballroom. It’s a simple up-tempo “swinging” tune based on the chord changes of Blue Skies written by Irving Berlin in 1927. Monk recorded it several times, including a 1958 version that includes a virtuosic performance by saxophonist, Johnny Griffin. Our version includes an excellent drum solo by Todd Reid before returning to the melody.

Darn That Dream was written by Jimmy Van Heusen in 1939 and published the following year. Benny Goodman made it a hit in 1940. My inspiration for the song, a beautiful ballad and jazz standard, was Dexter Gordon’s version from his album, One Flight Up, released in 1965 by Blue Note.

Inner Urge is Joe Henderson’s composition from his 1964 Blue Note album of the same name. Similar to Three Flowers, the group includes Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner from John Coltrane’s Quartet. Henderson, a tenor saxophone legend, was also a prolific composer, writing for both small groups and big bands. This exciting piece includes a tenor - bass (Mark Simon) duo for the melody and a marvelous solo by Eric Gunnison.

Elsa, a jazz waltz written by Earl Zindars, was recorded by his friend, Bill Evans, on his 1961 album, Explorations. The album won the Billboard Jazz Critics poll for best piano LP, which propelled Elsa to recognition among jazz musicians. On our version, Mark’s bass solo is particularly melodic and enjoyable.

Portrait Of Jenny, written by J. Russel Robinson and Gordon Burge, was the title song for the 1948 movie of the same name featuring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Nat King Cole recorded it that year as a single by Capitol Records and performed it on the Ed Sullivan show in 1949. Artists such as Red Garland, Blue Mitchell and Freddie Hubbard recorded it, but Joe Lovano’s live version at the 1994 Montreux Jazz Festival (YouTube) shouldn’t be missed.

Chick’s Tune was composed by Chick Corea based on the chord progression of You Stepped Out of a Dream. It was released on Blue Mitchell’s 1964 Blue Note album, It’s The Thing To Do, which featured Chick on piano. As an aside, Junior Cook, who I knew from my Berklee days, is on tenor. This up tempo tune, nicely initiated by Alejandro’s drum introduction, seemed a good finale to the CD, which I hope you enjoy as much as the musicians who put it together.