Album Notes

Mike Greensill Bio

After graduating from Leeds College of Music in England, Mike toured Europe and the Far East finally settling into his adopted home, San Francisco in1977. Well known in his role as musical director to Wesla Whitfield with whom he has recorded fifteen albums,
Mike is also resident piano player on Sedge Thompson's weekly radio show to the world, West Coast Live. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the White House, and as an arranger has had the
opportunity to write for big bands and symphony orchestras including the Boston Pops and the San Francisco Symphony.

'Greensill is an accompanist in the great tradition of
Jimmy Rowles and Ellis Larkins. It's worth twice the
price of admission just to hear him!"
Terry Teachout - NY Daily News

"Greensill is a wonderful jazz pianist."
Phillip Elwood, jazz writer for the San Francisco Chronicle

Album Notes

I've happily spent my musical career as an accompanist to many fine singers, including the notable Wesla Whitfield. But I've been cajoled, finally into making a trio album of my own: very scary, and made even scarier by my decision to record live!
Why live? Well, some of the best musical experiences I've had are those gigs when, through the magic of the common language that all jazz musicians possess, one gets together with like minded folk and just play some tunes (Always a traumatic experience for the employer, "You mean you people have never even met before"). Also, in the studio I tend to be much too careful. I wanted risk and surprise just like a real jazz date. Don't get me wrong though we did have one rehearsal.

Of course success for such a venture depends on superb musicians and I'm lucky enough to have two of the finest on this record. John Wiitala is the dean of San Francisco bass players. As much at home playing those solid, swinging and harmonically interesting bass-lines as he his in his role of lyrical soloist. "Duck" Bailey is just one of the most creative drummers I know. He's played with everyone imaginable, and I was especially trying to channel his work with Jimmy Rowles, one of my heroes.

Regarding the tunes; I love melody. In fact, my favorite quote of all time is Paul Desmond's wonderful line, "Sometimes the best chorus I play is the melody". So there are some great tunes here especially the ballads. Having said that, the strange thing is that the tunes I write seem always to be blues. There's two of those. You just can't take the jazzer out of the boy. There're a couple of vocals; my first recorded work since I sang "O For the Wings of A Dove" in London's St. Pauls Cathedral many years ago at the age of eleven. Another of my heroe's, Mr. Bob Dorough, the hippest guy I know, so I plucked up the courage to sing two of his songs.

This is the spot where the interminable 'thank you's' usually appear, and I'll save you most of that. But I do want to thank the audience at the Plush Room that fateful night. Their warmth and enthusiasm almost made me forget the red light was on!

Mike Greensill