The very best thing about the smalls-LIVE series is how these recordings recreate the visceral experience of Smalls, the hang itself. Engineer (and celebrated jazz photographer) Jimmy Katz comes up close on every instrument—appropriate for a club with 60 seats—but also lets in the applause, the tinkling glasses, the night air. One caveat: The fades of applause and announcements are unfortunate production decisions. They interfere with the fantasy that you are there.
PERSONNEL:
HAROLD MABERN – Piano
GERALD CANON – Bass
JOE FARNSWORTH – Drums
Recorded June 22nd & 23rd, 2012, live at SMALLS JAZZ CLUB, Greenwich Village, New York
TRACKS:
01. Alone Together (Arthur Schwartz)
02. I’m Walking (Fats Domino)
03. Dreaming (Errol Garner)
04. Road Song (Wes Montgomery)
05. Boogie For Al McShann (Harold Mabern)
06. Sesame Street (Joe Raposo)
07. Afro Blue (Mongo Santamaria)