INCLUDES 4 BONUS TRACKS

Joyce Collins (1930-2010) was an assertive two-handed pianist who listed Erroll Garner and Bud Powell as major influences—incidentally, she was also the first woman jazz pianist to serve on the board of directors of Los Angeles, Local 47, American Federation of Musicians. Her musical judgment was impeccable and she backed it with the ability to invigorate her material with a fresh, exciting and inventive approach. It’s amply demonstrated on “Girl Here Plays Mean Piano,” her first album, made in the major league company of bassist Ray Brown and drummer Frank Butler, who gave her the kind of firm, supple and propulsive support she relished. And on a swinging album it’s also worth noting how beautifully she handles the out-of-tempo passages, with Brown bowing, on Al Cohn’s impressively mood-evoking Ah, Moore.
On the four additional rare bonus tracks she shares the spotlight with vibraphonist Gene Estes and a driving rhythm section, including Bob Bertaux and Jerry Williams, for a solid, swinging session. These are the earliest of the all too few recordings this fine pianist made in her career. The loss is ours.

Tracks #1-9, from the Jazzland 12" album Joyce Collins Trio - Girl Here Plays Mean Piano (JLP 924S)
The Joyce Collins Trio
JOYCE COLLINS (piano)
RAY BROWN  (bass)
FRANK BUTTER Fr (drums).
Recorded in Los Angeles, June 1 & 2, 1960.

Bonus tracks #10-13 from the Carlton 12" album Gene Estes – Hear This New Vibe Sound in Your Home Tonight! (STLP 12/125)
Gene Estes Quartet
JOYCE COLLINS (piano)
GENE ESTES  (vibes)
BOB BERTAUX  (bass)
JERRY WILLIAMS  (drums).
Recorded in Los Angeles, 1960.

TRACKS:

01. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
(Ellington-Nemo-Mills) 4:27
02. Just In Time (Comden-Green-Styne) 3:54
03. Walkin’ (Carpenter) 4:44
04. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(Carmichael) – piano solo 2:57
05. The End of a Love Affair (Redding) 4:09
06. Day In, Day Out (Turk-Ahlert) 3:38
07. Something’s Gotta Give (Mercer) 5:03
08. Ah, Moore (Cohn) 3:58
09. Blue Jay (Collins) 5:12
Bonus Tracks:
10. Lady Be Good (Gershwin) 2:20
11. Califa (Estes) 3:27
12. Deed I Do (Rose-Hirsh) 3:17
13. Wind Up (Estes) 3:02

Total time: 50:00 min. approx.