Featured Artist: Gary Motley

CD Title: Keypers

Year: 2002

Record Label: Independent

Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic

Musicians: Gary Motley, piano, composer, arranger. Guest artists, including Veronica Tate on vocals and Herman Burney on bass.

Review: Gary Motley is among the best in contemporary jazz piano. He composes and arranges, and this collection features his song, "Monkology." Motley has a fresh, seductive piano style with plenty of style and verve, and a sound that is sure to capture a wide jazz listening audience. He can also play stride piano that is among the best around!

This enjoyable collection has 14 songs. Among the songs are such jazz gems as "Sweet And Lovely," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Perdido," "Stompin' At The Savoy," "I Didn't Know What Time It is," "My Old Flame," "I Remember You," and "How Deep Is The Ocean."

"It Never Entered My Mind" is a reflective, gentle piece, and Gary Motley gives it a fine treatment. Another song his intimate style shines through on is his version of "I Remember You" accompanied by Veronica Tate on vocals.

This is a first class jazz piano collection. It features one of the finest contemporary jazz pianists currently performing.

KEYPERS is an outstanding listening experience, one to savor and remember for its memorable performances. It would be nice to see what wonderful stylings Gary Motley could achieve with some songs by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and George Gershwin.

Tracks: "How Deep Is The Ocean," an old Irving Berlin classic, is given fresh and imaginative treatment and showcases the unique style of Gary Motley.

Artist's Website: http://garymotleymusic.com

Reviewed by: Lee Prosser

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