Album Notes

Michael Civisca:Live with The Trio is the first in a series of recordings that will capture Michael Civisca in a live performance. Unlike the sometimes restrictive confines of the recording studio, this live concert brings a freedom and spontaneity to the songs, supplying them with dynamic expression and emotion. These qualities demonstrate Civisca's talent as a singer, that of taking a song and making it an emotional experience. Unlike some vocalists who revel in embellishment. Civisca chooses instead to sing the song closer to the melody, focusing on its lyrics, and phrasing the words in a way which best finds their meaning.

Equally important is capturing the right mood, providing a song with just the right atmosphere. Here the trio supplies the setting, casting each song in a unique swinging arrangement. Bassist Eric Harper, whose big sound and impeccable time are complemented by Jeff Meister's drum work, propels the trio's swing. Mike Jones rounds out the trio on piano, leading the group through a diverse range of accompanying styles. On ballads, they favor a backroom, after-hours feel, while on the swing numbers, they move with ease through the realms of bebop and big band. The result is a demonstration of Civisca's ability to breathe new life into traditional standards and an emotional musical journey that listeners of this CD can enjoy again and again.