January/February 2003 • By John Schu

Kenny Werner
Beat Degeneration
Sunnyside

It is surprising that there is no applause present after any tune but the last on Kenny Werner's Beat Degeneration (Sunnyside). The CD's seven Werner compositions were selected from nine sets of performances at the Sunside Club in Paris in November 2000...

January/February 2003 • By John Schu

Junior Mance Trio
On the Road
Trio

The very accomplished veteran Junior Mance's On the Road (Trio) contains selections from three February 2002 U.K. concert performances. Mance is still in fine form with all of his musical attributes intact. Producer/engineer/bassist Andrew Cleyndert has...

Live at Keystone Korner Mary Lou Williams

January/February 2003 • By John Schu

Mary Lou Williams
Live at Keystone Korner
HighNote Records

The press release for Mary Lou Williams' Live at the Keystone Korner (High Note) correctly states that there is a dearth of recordings currently available by this major artist. Unfortunately, the recording quality of this 1977 performance is not up to the...

January/February 2003 • By John Schu

Cedar Walton
Latin Tinge
HighNote Records

Cedar Walton must be regarded as the most accomplished of these pianist leaders. Walton has performed on hundreds of records and written many tunes that entered the standard repertoire or should enter it. There is no shortage of currently available recordings...