88 Keys And A Girl - Reg Wilson

 

88 Keys And A Girl

88 Keys And A Girl

Reg Wilson

The Voice: Corinna Manetto

Arranger: Reg Wilson

Producer: LeRoy Holmes

Engineer: Eddie Smith

Recorded in New York City at Mayfair Studios

United Artists Records

STEREO UAS 6692

1969

From the back cover: JILLY'S is one of the places in New York I like to go with friends. The food, of course, is what the English call "scrumptious," but beyond that there is the very important matter of atmosphere, and JILLY's has atmosphere with a capital A.

Nowadays, this atmosphere revolves around the sound of Reg Wilson's piano. It's very strange how some musicians have a gift for creating atmosphere, and some have not. Technique you can acquire, but not this sort of thing. Whenever I go into JILLY'S, I'm reminded of the first time I heard Willie "The Lion" Smith at the Capitol Palace, years and years ago. You stepped in, and immediately you were bathed in the atmosphere, and became part of it.

Reg Wilson moves in many directions, but the music always comes out in good taste. I like the originals he writes, such as 888, Sylvia's Theme, and At Home with Holmes, and I like his choice of contemporary material. By emphasizing their virtues in his playing, he has, in fact, often brought songs to my attention that I might otherwise have missed. Traveling as much as I do, it isn't always possible to keep up with the music on Broadway and in films the way I would like to, so I'm always delighted when I get to hear a Wilson précis of what's happening. In this album, he has included Hugo Montenegro's theme from Frank Sinatra's Lady in Cement and Michel LeGrand's theme from The Thomas Crown Affair. Then there is a Bacharach-David song from the Broadway show, Promises, Promises, and a number by the Sherman Brothers from the movie, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. The last has a title I especially like – Hushabye Mountain – and it gives the program a pleasing change of pace. As for Sunny, that's one of the real anthems of the '60s, isn't it?

Another big asset here, I feel, is the voice of Corinna Manetto, a girl who is obviously a good musician. (It has always been my belief that you're either a good musician or you're not-no half- way measures!) In the past, I have frequently indulged a taste for wordless vocalizing when capable voices have been available to me, and I really appreciate the way Miss Manetto anticipates the flow of the music. It may sound easy, but it's infinitely harder to do than non-singers would ever imagine. She has an accurate ear and shades sensitively in the muted passages. Her control is good, and on the higher notes a revealing touch of vibrato enhances her sound.

But I must avoid falling into the analytical trap. Sometimes, when that happens, you get into the position of a person who takes a flower apart, petal by petal, and ends up with no flower. The conception and group performance are what's important here, and, as I said at the beginning, it's a matter of atmosphere  – a good atmosphere.

Background or foreground, under or over conversation, Reg Wilson's music comes off. I like it. I could listen to it for hours, and have. I have spent hours at JILLY'S in total overall agreement with him, and though not a word has been spoken in any language, I have believed everything he said. – DUKE ELLINGTON

Theme From The Thomas Crown Affair

  Windmills Of Your Mind

  From the United Artists Motion Picture "The Thomas Crown Affair

888

To Make It Right

Hushabye Mountain

   From the United Artists Motion Picture "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang:

Sylvia's Theme

At Home With Holmes

Knowing When To Leave

   From the New Broadway Musical "Promises, Promises"

Tony's Theme

   From the Motion Picture "Lady In Cement"

Sunny