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| 5.961 Ft
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| 1. | For Openers
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| 2. | It Could Happen to You
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| 3. | Blues for Wynton Kelly
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| 4. | Who's Kidding Who?
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| 5. | Rhythm-A-Ning
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| 6. | Blood Count
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| 7. | My Shining Hour / I'll Be Seeing You
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| 8. | Lazy Afternoon
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| 9. | Ethiopia
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| 10. | My Funny Valentine
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Jazz
Avant-Garde
Post-Bop
Recorded: Feb 1988
Larry Willis - piano
Al Foster - drums
Kenny Garrett - alto saxophone, piano
George Mraz - bass
Bill Milkowski - Liner Notes
Originally released in 1988, My Funny Valentine was the debut recording as a leader by pianist Larry Willis. Willis was known to many as the funky keyboardist of Blood, Sweat & Tears, but upon leaving that band, Willis devoted himself almost exclusively to traditional jazz repertoire. Willis is accompanied here by the important rhythm section of George Mraz (bass) and Al Foster (drums), with additional support by well-known alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett on three tracks. On this CD, Willis summons the spirits of his heroes - McCoy Tyner, Wynton Kelly, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans. Downbeat's Bill Milkowski reports, "This album is what good jazz is all about: full of risks and surprises, teeming with energy and abandon, packed with telepathic interplay, empathetic accompaniment and strong, heartfelt solo statements."
Although Larry Willis had played fusion and electric jazz-rock in the 1970s, the Willis heard on 1988's enjoyable, if conventional, My Funny Valentine is a more conservative post-bopper/hard bopper whose main reference points include McCoy Tyner, Tommy Flanagan, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans. Willis plays the acoustic piano exclusively on this CD, and standards are a high priority. Nothing cutting-edge occurs, just straight-ahead jazz that's honest, warm and melodic. Most of the selections are trio numbers with bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster, although the pianist is joined by the passionate alto saxman Kenny Garrett on Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning," Garrett's insistent "For Openers" and Willis' haunting "Ethiopia." As a trio pianist, Willis is in good form on such often recorded standards as "My Funny Valentine," "Lazy Afternoon" and Billy Strayhorn's "Bloodcount" -- all of which demonstrate how sensitive a ballad player he can be. Initially released only in Japan by the Jazz City label, My Funny Valentine came out in the U.S. when the Philadelphia-based Evidence Music reissued it in 1998.
---Alex Henderson, allmusic |
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