One of my happiest assignments in recent months was writing the liner essay for a new CD by the New York composer, arranger and pianist Joan Stiles. She rounded up an all-star group of sidemen–Steve Wilson, Joel Frahm, Peter Washington, Jeremy Pelt and Lewis Nash–for Hurly-Burly. Her writing and the playing by all hands sparkle in pieces by Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Fats Waller, Jimmy Rowles, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and Stiles herself. Consider this not a review, but a hot tip.
This is short notice, but Joan is going to be on the radio soon to talk about the CD with Vince Outlaw of KSDS radio in San Diego. That’s at 10:15 pm EDT, 7:15 PDT this evening. You can hear it by clicking here to get to the KSDS website and clicking on “Listen Now” on the right of your screen.