Sir Roland Hanna

The challenge to recording works from the Great American Songbook is for an artist to come up with a fresh approach, which is rather difficult due to the numerous recordings of the music George Gershwin made by jazz musicians over many decades. But Sir Roland Hanna is up to the task, accompanied by a strong supporting cast, including Bill Easley (tenor and soprano saxes), bassist Jon Burr, and drummer Ronnie Burrage.

"Summertime," likely the most frequently done Gershwin composition, is given a disguised introduction and a dark yet funky arrangement, with inventive blues piano by the leader and haunting soprano sax by Easley. "Oh Lady Be Good" finds Hanna building the tension with an insistent left-hand vamp that briefly delves into boogie woogie, before releasing his hold and charging into a brisk bop setting. "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" is a Hanna duet with Easley's lush flute. The finale is a no-holds-barred dash through "Strike Up the Band." Originally issued by LRC in the early '90s, this recommended CD has since been reissued by Laserlight.

~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide