MARC SEALES with ERNIE WATTS

PEOPLE & PLACES

origin Records

Marc Seales, piano/keyboards/composer; Ernie Watts, tenor saxophone/composer; Bruce Lett, acoustic bass; Moyes Lucas, Jr., drums.

The Marc Seales project starts out sweetly.  His original tune is called “Rue Cler” and Ernie Watts is featured on tenor saxophone. His emotionally charged sax enchants, as Ernie introduces us to the melody.  This tune is followed by Wayne Shorter’s “Palladium” composition, arranged as straight-ahead jazz, played at a moderate tempo.  This is not Seales’ first recording with Ernie Watts.  They released “New Stories, Reaching Out” in 1999.

This Seattle-based pianist has been on the A-list of touring favorites by jazz luminaires for decades. Just ask Mark Murphy or Larry Coryell, two legendary artists he has toured with over several decades. There is a certain tenderness that Marc Seales imposes during his delivery of a tune called “Prelude.”  On this production, it’s all about the piano and what Seales has to say with those 88-keys at his fingertips.

“The Muddy Chicago Blues” is just what the title signifies.  This is a deep, down-home blues tune with Bruce Lett’s acoustic bass drawing me into the production like quicksand.  Moyes Lucas Jr., slaps the groove into place and Marc Seales takes a piano solo that pulls me into the party like a juke joint pianist would. This tune celebrates the great Muddy Waters.

A song called “Ascending Truth” was written by Seales for a Don Lanphere record.

“Larry Coryell was the guest guitarist.  It was untitled until Larry said it sounds like “Ascending Truth,” Seales explains in his liner notes.

I prefer this new arrangement to the original recording. Ernie Watts soars on his saxophone, enhancing the arrangement.

Their closing tune was composed for and dedicated to the phenomenal drummer, Ndugu Chancler. (R.I.P)  It’s a collaboration by Seales and Watts called “Home Light.”  Bassist, Bruce Lett opens this song and sets the mood.  This one is a little bluesy, a little gospel, and very soulful.

Now that Marc Seales has retired from an inspired 38-year career at the University of Washington, he can fully concentrate his creative efforts of composing, recording and performing. This is a wonderful sample of what’s to come.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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