Dave McKenna is at his best playing solo piano, as on this two-day session in the studio from 1977.
McKenna's strength lies in his basslines and his ability to uplift tunes that often sound hackneyed in the hands of lesser musicians, such as "My Melancholy Baby" and "Somebody Stole My Gal," both of which find the pianist at his most inventive. Also present are overlooked gems like Zez Confrey's "Stumbling" and
Irving Berlin's moving ballad "All Alone," played with the melodic swing that jazz fans have come to expect of
McKenna. This long-unavailable LP was finally reissued on CD in 2000, with the addition of five bonus tracks, including a loping but brisk treatment of
Bob Wills' Texas swing hit "San Antonio Rose" as well as obscurities like the rollicking "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" and "Willie the Weeper." This solo piano CD should be considered essential by fans of swing. ~ Ken Dryden