Album Notes

This CD was recorded and released not long after my return to Montreal from studying in Boston, in 1995. By that point I had a number of originals in my repertoire - now (2007) I have almost exclusively originals in my repertoire - but I decided to include a few standards in the mix, being an enduring fan of the American songbook.

Perhaps not surprisingly, since I had just spent a year studying with Paul Bley, a critic remarked that my playing had some Bley-like characteristics, mixed with a large dose of Bill Evans-inspired lyricism. Again, no surprise, since Bill was one of the first jazz pianists I truly fell for.

I am a huge fan of melody and my compositions rely very heavily on singable melodic lines, coupled with rich harmony. They are thoroughly modern in sound and conception, but also I hope thoroughly accessible. Frank Lozano and Aron Doyle are both beautiful lyrical players and they do my compositions proud.