Blue Night
Release Date: March 07, 1998
Steve Giordano Trio
Steve Giordano - Guitar
George Mesterhazy - Organ
Joe Mullen - Drums
Liner Notes
Description
Music, for me, has always been an abstract way of expressing feelings with no literal connections. Music expressed without words seems truer to feelings since feelings are such a mixture of sensations. Words, for me, seem more analogous to actual feelings whereas music/art seem to include this mixture of sensations. I feel blessed to have musical gifts and I never lose focus of this. Anyone who can express their feelings through art is lucky indeed.
Not being a visual artist, I don't usually have a color connection with music, but the music on this CD seems blue to me as I hear it today; a deep blue; moody, a dark shade with warmth and tenderness and some sorrow all at once. A mixture. I am guessing the reason for this is more personal to me but I have a feeling some listeners may experience some similar notions. Some of my personal feelings come from the organ; Hammond B-3. Two great organists that I had the pleasure to play and record with, Richard "Groove" Holmes and Don Patterson, passed, and I loved them both musically and as people. On this CD, organist George Mesterhazy clearly shows his regard for these two influences but offers his unique identity as a creative artist. Drummer Joe Mullen has been in my quartet for a decade and a half but we parted ways a year ago. Joe's approach to music will always be a force in my musical thoughts.
The music on this CD is full of exploration. In fact, this recording was the first time the three of us played together. We did standards except for a little free improv jam at the end. The only real preparation, aside from a lifetime of playing music, was me giving George chord charts loosely based on my arrangements that Joe already knew, for the standards. We had an absolute ball playing together. It was totality unpredictable and interactive and we heightened each other's musical awareness and that is the ultimate goal for playing creative music. We stretched out to the max going out on a limb. Everyone played for the music itself. It is sincerity at our best.
Don Antonelli the sound engineer at Alemada studio did a superb job with the mix and the sound really capturing the music.
My personal highlights:
Stella by Starlight (Victor Young) - I love the way we did this opener because it sets the mood for the whole album. It is very open sounding, loose, emotional and Joe's contribution makes George and I go insane with flurries of passion.
Moment's Notice (John Coltrane) - Taken from my arrangement for my Muse recording in 1980, this up-tempo version got hot quickly while maintaining spontaneity.
In your own Sweet way (Dave Brubeck) - The intro took on it's own personality with the guitar motif surrounded by moving harmonies from the organ thus creating a unique texture setting up the melody.
The Days of Wine and Roses (Mancini) - This is my personal favorite on the CD. George's intro is beautiful setting up the melody. The tempo is very slow and moody. This is how I like to play ballads. No double time, lots of feel and over the bar line phrasing.
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