“SWEET” SUE TERRY AND FRIENDS LINER NOTES I wanted the album to start with Little Sunflower. The way we played it that night represents so much of what I want to do in music, vis a vis listening to each other and improvising collectively, letting the tune morph where it may. Tony Marino’s creative and postmodern bass solo will surely become a textbook example of the art of Spontaneous Composition.
DoubleRainbow is a waltz also known by the titles “Chovendo Na Rosiera” and “Children’s Games.” It’s not often performed, possibly because of the 2/4 bar in the middle of each hlf of the bridge. I feel that’s one of the “earmarks” of the tune, so for the blowing section we retained it.
Michael Legrand is an iconic composer and an expert in the art of compositional development. I prepared a little homage to him for this date. At the rehearsal, I found out that both Vic and Bill had toured with him! During the transition we gradually hand it off to Bill, who plays a lyrical but driving solo (How is that possible? I don’t know, but he does it!) leading to the pickups for the final section. I love how the rhythm section toys with the groove during the outro. We didn’t plan it. That’s why we call it PLAYING!
Luiza is another rarely-done Jobim tune, here featuring myself on clarinet and Vic on acoustic guitar, which he plays marvelously throughout this date. He’s so sublime and sensitive, we played the whole thing rubato, just like breathing.
Grand Old Flag is one of George M. Cohan’s most enduring, and endearing, tunes. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his wartime compositions, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the U.S.A. I came up with this slightly bizarre arrangement for a July 4th gig; the tune was playing in my head with all these changing meters, so that’s how I wrote it.
The Red Carpet is a fun Latin tune with a catchy melody. It was contributed by our special guest pianist for the evening, Ron Thomas, who is from Philly originally. Check out his touch. And everything he plays is so elegant!
Slow Journey is an original of mine. The inspiration for it was an old Billie Holiday blues. At the end of the day, a blues is really all you need.
