Jazz / Hard Bop
Sir Roland Hanna - Piano
Alan Dawson Drums
Claude Carriere Liner Notes
G. Preneron Digital Remastering
George Duvivier Bass
Gerhard Lehner Engineer
Jean Marc Fritz Graphic Design, Collection
Jean Marie Monestier Photography
Jean Michel Proust Graphic Design, Collection
Jean-Pierre Tahmazian Photography
Major Holley Bass
Oliver Jackson Drums
Patrice Queff Engineer
Tina Biderman English Translations
Sir Roland Hanna was busy in the recording studios during the late '70s, as a number of different labels recognized his tremendous chops in a wide range of styles. Most of Impressions, put out by Black & Blue, is devoted to a trio session with bassist Major Holley and drummer Alan Dawson, kicking off with a brisk take of Cole Porter's "I Love You" and Sigmund Romberg's "Lover, Come Back to Me." Although "Body and Soul" is all but owned by tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins for his famous 1939 record, Hanna turns in a whirlwind solo piano interpretation that stands on its own merit. John Coltrane's "Impressions" is not typically heard in a piano trio setting, but it works wonderfully with Holley's driving bass and Dawson's inventive percussion in support of the leader's furious solo. Hanna's blues-drenched "The Lonely Ones" sounds like the perfect closing timepiece, though the CD reissue of this track is marred by wowing in the master tape. This reissue adds two bonus tracks, a gospel-influenced take of Miles Davis' "All Blues" and the Gershwins' "Isn't It a Pity," taken from an unrelated trio date with bassist George Duvivier and drummer Oliver Jackson. Recommended. [This version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Sir Roland Hanna
Active Decades: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Feb 10, 1932 in Detroit, MI
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Cool, Ballads, Post-Bop, Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Standards
A talented pianist with a style diverse enough to fit into swing, bop, and more adventurous settings, Roland Hanna was one of the last in an impressive line of great pianists who emerged in Detroit after World War II (including Hank Jones, Barry Harris, and Tommy Flanagan). After serving in the Army and studying music at Eastman and Juilliard, Hanna made a strong impression playing with Benny Goodman (1958). He worked with Charles Mingus for a period in 1959, and went on to generally lead his own trios. Hanna was an integral part of the Thad JonesMel Lewis orchestra (1967-1974), and in 1974 helped found the New York Jazz Quartet (with Frank Wess). He was given knighthood (thus the "Sir") from the President of Liberia in 1970 in recognition for a series of concerts held to benefit Liberian children. Hanna recorded many solo dates and often with a trio, but also composed many works for groups of varying sizes - both for jazz groups and classical ensembles. His piece "Oasis" for piano and orchestra was performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1993. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Hanna was also an active educator and tenured professor at Queens College in New York. After almost half a century of performing and recording, Sir Roland Hanna passed away at the age of 70 on November 13, 2002 after suffering a heart attack.
---Scott Yanow & Wade Kergan, All Music Guide |
