If there's a piano to be played in a New York City jazz club, whether uptown or downtown, you can bet Jill McCarron's been there. Inspired by favorites, including Horace Silver, Bill Evans and Junior Mance, Jill's persistence was awarded with a finalist nod in the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition, and top honors at the 13th Annual Great American Piano Competition, where the judges included Horace Silver and Monty Alexander! Gin is a collection of originals alongside nuggets from Horace Silver, Junior Mance, Gene Harris, Bill Evans and George Duke; an impressive display on standards of Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen, in a trio setting with bassists Paul Gill and Chris Haney, drummers Andy Watson and Chuck Redd, with contributions from saxophonists Vincent Herring and Ada Rovati and flugelhornist Randy Brecker adding to this outstanding musical roux.
From Monday, March 18 through Friday, March 22, one cut from pianist Jill McCarron’s album Gin will be featured each morning in the New Day, New Play spotlight on my Daybreak show.
Preview “Yesterdays” from Jill McCarron’s album Gin, above.
