Variations In Blue

Description

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
Nordic Echoes
Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
Third time to Tango
Black and Tan Fantasy
Oblivion
Salvation
Blues in the Night
May Each Day.
American tenor saxophonist Harry Allen (born 1966) was influenced by a father who played drums with Paul Gonsalves, with whom he was also friends. The latter, as well as Stan Getz, became the reference models for the young saxophonist. After studying at Rutgers University with Kenny Baron, Sahib Shihab, and Bob Minzer, he made his first European tour in the 1980s with drummer Oliver Jackson, who would go on to have a relatively "discreet" international career—hence the album title *Quietly There*. He is a magnificent performer, rooted in swing and bebop. Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren (also born 1966), discovered by tenor saxophonist Arne Domnerus, appears on numerous recordings for Japanese, American, and German labels. Supported by a subtle rhythm section, these musicians perform ballads and medium-tempo themes by Johnny Mandel, one of the most talented composers of the post-Gershwin, Porter, Kern, and Berlin generation. Beautiful melodies, beautiful music, and a lot of heart!