Stan Hope - Pastels

This Stan Hope recording combines bold confidence with a polished elegance reminiscent of Erroll Garner, his early influence. Hope's playing sparkles like Garner's, but is not as fanciful or as ornate. Hope doesn't engage in those long, twisting runs Garner is noted for, but he certainly swings and plays in an unabashedly romantic manner. His renditions of 4 Garner charts have the same spare yet melodic selectivity as that of his idol. While this album is primarily a piano trio set, long-time sidecick Houston Person shows up with his swinging soulful tenor saxophone on three cuts. Drummond and Washington are their usual excellent selves and sonics are plush in trademark Savant manner.

1. Be Anything
2. Summer Serenade
3. Moment's Delight
4. That's My Kick
5. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing / Forest Flower
6. Hopeful Blues
7. Pastels
8. Nightwind
9. Indiana
10. Cottage For Sale / Everything I Have Is Yours / I'm Falling For You



Personnel: Stan Hope (piano); Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Ray Drummond (bass); Kenny Washington (drums)

Recorded at M & I Studios, New York, New York on November 17, 1999.

Stan Hope feat. Houston Person - Put on a Happy Face

Killer session featuring the great Stan Hope on piano, a player who has been active for seven (!) decades as an active jazz pianist and a long-time sidekick of great tenor sax man Houston Person who participates on three numbers. Stalwarts Ray Drummond and Kenny Washington on bass and drums respectively provide the rhythmic foundation and superb sound is guaranteed by the great Rudy Van Gelder, what more could a jazz lover ask for?

track listing

1. R.D.'s Blues
2. Then I'll Be Tired of You
3. My Ship
4. Easy to Love
5. Put on a Happy Face
6. They Can't Take That Away from Me
7. I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over
8. Somewhere in the Night
9. Medley: I'll Never Stop Loving You/The Island: I'll Never Stop Loving You / The Island
10. K.W. Groove


personnel & info

Audio Mixer: Rudy Van Gelder.

Liner Note Author: David Jaye.

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (12/22/2004).

Personnel: Stan Hope (piano); Stan Hope; Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Ray Drummond (bass guitar); Kenny Washington (drums).

Additional personnel: Houston Person (on tracks 1, 2 & 7)