July 2010 CD of the Month

Veteran pianist Junior Mance has been pleasing audiences around the world for over 7 decades.  His youthful piano playing and personality defies his chronological age of 82. Julian “Junior” Mance began playing professionally as a teenager in his home town of Chicago, Junior’s sound has always been drenched in gospel, blues, swing and the bop jazz music he heard growing up in “Chi-Town”.

Mr. Mance’s latest recording for his own JunGlo Music label was recorded live at the Café Loup in New York City where Junior and his trio have been performing regularly every Sunday evening for the past several years, however for his “Out South” release Junior opted to record in a quintet format adding tenor and baritone saxophonists along with his long time sidemen, bassist, Hidé Tanaka and drummer Jackie Williams. Performing both originals and standards, the quintet sizzles from start to finish much to the delight of the enthusiastic patrons at one of Manhattan’s leading jazz venues. Mance’s marvelous and diverse skills are evident throughout the CD, he and the ensemble shine brightly playing in a variety of tempos.

When listening to this album, you too may feel compelled to jump up and shout “one more! ” as those present did after the last song which prompted the quintet to perform a rousing reprise of their final tune.