Album Notes

From Russ Phillips\' “One Morning In May” notes:

Written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1933, “One Morning In May” was a tune I first heard played in a jam session in 1983 played by Larry Novak, well-known Chicago pianist and conductor. I’ve loved it ever since, maybe because it fits with my own personality and positive way of looking at music and at life. Hoagy’s tune, in fact, almost all of these songs pre-date the 50’s and are handled very nicely by this group of musicians who listen to each other carefully, play together as one and always swing! It is my very good fortune to have such wonderful musicians with me on these sessions.

I put this quartet of piano, guitar, bass and trombone together for our original quartet gig at Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago. My hope was to capture some of that great intimate feel of the original Nat King Cole Trio, with the trombone as the solo voice. I think we succeeded! With these guys you can’t miss.

Some comments on previous Cds by Russ Phillips…

\"...Russ Phillips, whose trombone style--now robust, now sweet, now silky, now turbulent-like a compendium of all the best elements of trombone style since jazz was born.\"
Tom Gilmore, Contributor to the Mississippi Rag

\"…Russ Phillips easily convinces all listeners that he is truly one of the finest trombonists in Chicago....Russ also surrounds himself with great music and musicians.\"
Marshall Vente review for the Jazz Institute of Chicago.