| Jazz |
Casey MacGill is, above all, a showman musician, having started his career at the St. James Theatre and the opening of the Broadway musical “Swing,” which also features four of his original compositions. He and his trio Mood Indigo appeared in the film “Frances” with Jessica Lange. Casey and Mood Indigo captivated Hollywood, entertaining Tinseltown royalty, becoming a frequent mention in George Christie’s column “The Great Life” in the Hollywood Reporter.
This double album is built on tracks from the flashy recent years (1970-2020), with some tracks having been released previously. These, along with new compositions, were recorded between 2019 and 2020. A very retro, fun, and popular jazz unfolds across two CDs and could ultimately represent a single performance, as the way the tracks are arranged on the two CDs provides an overall view of a show that our grandparents or great-grandparents could have attended. There’s a playful British touch in the voice that transports us into a world of private clubs, big cigars, a glass of whiskey in hand in a hazy atmosphere, large leather armchairs, and knowing smiles.
This album-performance can also be considered a real document on the unique art of composing music for shows. The writing is marked by an immediacy; each track perfectly sets a scene in seconds. Not many musicians can achieve this feat, but Casey MacGill does it perfectly. So, once again, this double CD can be fascinating for music students, especially in composition, who can dissect the craftsmanship that live performances will always require.
Casey MacGill, the discreet talent, impresses throughout the tracks. The intelligence and tricks in his compositions are remarkable, skillfully using the arrangement of instruments to evoke the desired emotions. To highlight the importance of this musician, here are some career milestones: opening for Lily Tomlin at the Ice House in Pasadena, California (1971), recording with the R. Crumb Cheap Suit Serenaders on a 78 RPM record (1973), performing with the Rubber Band on the Tonight Show (1974), recording with the Rubber Band for Atlantic Records (1975), playing keyboards with Bobby Caldwell (1976-77), appearing on The Gong Show (1977), and composing the music for the film “Reborn” with Dennis Hopper (1980).
This album brought joy to the editorial teams at Bayou Blue Radio and Paris-Move, who would have loved to attend these shows just for the pleasure that this double CD has given us. Therefore, we proudly make “Love Letter” our favorite!
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 24th 2023
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Tracklisting:
1. Nocturne 02:54
2. Who’s Gonna Buy Your Drinks Tonight 03:59
3. So Far So Good 02:27
4. Waltz Noir 05:33
5. Summer Shade 02:41
6. Hold the Phone 02:48
7. Nocturne in Db 00:32
8. Funk University 02:50
9. The Camel’s Hump 03:02
10. Swingin’ in the Rain 03:17
11. Pan Dulce 04:09
12. Love Letter 04:16
13. You Always Want the Thang you can’t have 03:11
14. Barrelhouse 02:49
15. He Makes the Blues Come Out of His Horn 03:36
16. San Gabriel 03:22
17. Postcard from Jelly 05:32
18. Front Porch Rockin’ 05:00
19. Are You Fats Enough? 02:29
20. On a Summer Night 03:44
21. Late Night Swing 02:46
22. Love Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues 05:04
23. Rhythm 03:15
24. It’s Gonna Be a Long Long Time 03:24