Personnel:
Dave Grusin (p), Milt Hinton (b), Don Lamond (d)
Reference: FSRCD 1673
Bar code: 8427328616737
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In the fall of 1961, Dave Grusin, a 27-year-old talented pianist, accompanist, and arranger for singer Andy Williams, was signed by Columbia Records. He promptly made his recording debut as a leader with a trio album, playing a jazz rendition of Jule Styne’s Broadway hit “Subways Are for Sleeping,” released on Columbia’s subsidiary label, Epic.
With a touch reminiscent of Andre Previn and accompanied by bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Don Lamond, he skillfully navigates through nine of Styne’s melodies, providing his own interpretations in this brisk and effective jazz treatment of the score from the Broadway show.
Impressed with Grusin’s considerable musical intelligence coupled with an ability to swing, Quincy Jones, one of the greatest minds in pop and jazz music, said: ‘Dave’s great —he has a comprehensive musical mind and a fabulous feel that lets him get funky when it’s needed. Dave shows you that you can play with musical integrity without it sounding like vanilla.’
This Dave Grusin album was the first in a long and successful career as amusician and producer. Above all, he has left an indelible mark as an accomplished film and television composer.
—Jordi Pujol
"Dave Grusin's debut recording focuses on selections from the Broadway musical Subways Are for Sleeping. The pianist is joined by bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Don Lamond, though none of the nine Jule Styne compositions caught on with the public following the end of the play's run. Grusin's arrangements succeed in bringing the music to life, with all three musicians sounding as if they are a working group rather than just taking part in a one-shot project. While the music is enjoyable, Dave Grusin's career really took off when he began composing and recording movie themes, many of which have remained in the public's memory far longer than any of these (unjustly) long forgotten pieces by Jule Styne."
—Ken Dryden (All Music Guide)
