JUSTIN PIERCE

SWAY

Justin Pierce Music

Justin Pierce, saxophones; Ashley Pierce, vocals; Sean Michael Giddings, piano; Young Heo, bass; Matt Young, drums.

A husband and wife team, Justin and Ashley Pierce, have been delighting audiences in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area with their danceable renditions of songs from the Great American Songbook.  They open this album with the popular “Sway” song. It is also the album title for Justin Pierce.  Ashley sings the tune down once, then Justin plays his impressive tenor saxophone solo. This is followed by Michael Giddings improvised piano solo. The tone for this album is set.

Young Heo, the bassist from the heralded University of North Texas’ One O’Clock Lab Band, opens the next tune on double bass, playing “Honeysuckle Rose,” a standard tune from the great composer, Fats Waller.  Heo is joined by Ashley on vocals with her voice dancing comfortably above his walking bass. They swing the first couple of verses as a duo. Then, they’re joined by the rest of the band on the bridge.

“The Jody Grind” is one of three instrumentals on their album. This one celebrates the great Horace Silver. The band sounds comfortable, playing this familiar jazz standard with gusto and Justin Pierce sparkles on his saxophone.

They pick up the tempo on “Meglio Stasera” with Ashley back on vocals, singing this song in Italian. It’s arranged as an energetic samba.  A popular Miles Davis tune, “All Blues,” is played at a surprisingly faster tempo than expected, with a funk groove supplied by Matt Young on drums.  This is another instrumental that allows the listener to enjoy these talented musicians. Their rendition of “Alone Together” is presented as a Latin arrangement and the classic, “Moon River” is a sweet waltz.

There is something for everyone on this album, from the Bill Wither’s pop/funk tune “Just the Two of Us” to Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood.”  Ashley Pierce has a warm, inviting vocal style. Her husband, formerly lead alto sax player with the outstanding University of North Texas One O’ Clock lab Band, has been playing saxophone since he was twelve.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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