Especially For You

About  Especially For You

This is an album of songs most often requested at the Mission Ranch. It is an eclectic mix, reflecting both my taste and choices and those of the clientele. Mostly easy listening, with a jazz edge that penetrates and infuses the tracks with energy.

Make Me a Memory

My standard opening tune, I start the evening with this Grover Washington piece whenever I can, it warms my fingers and mind upp for the evening ahead.

Padiddle

by David Kempton. Uses the rhythmical timing of Perdido with the funky bite of hip-hop to create a masterpiece of angular improvisational.

Do You Know What It Means

vocal by Dino Vera, check out his soulful styling.

For Jimmy

by David Kempton. Up-tempo post-bop piece with fluid melodies and structured trading. Written for B3 master Jimmy Smith.

Ita

by Heath Proskin. Pretty composition in 3/4 gives a lift to your spirits.

Four Minutes of Spring

by Stu Reynolds, based on Clifford Brown's Joy Spring.

Hallelujah I Love Her So

vocal by Dino Vera, composition by Ray Charles.

Cameo Menu

by Heath Proskin

Three Out Of Four

by Stu Reynolds

Nearness of You

vocal by Dino Vera

Hold 'Em, Holden

by Heath Proskin

Co-Heath-Ive

by David Kempton

I Thought About you

vocal by Dino Vera

Mete Beto en Carcel

by Heath Proskin

Fo' Mo' MoFos

by Heath Proskin

About the Selections

Requests. I get requests. Some of them I get often enough I have developed special arrangements for, others are simply tunes that need no further embellishment to stand aloone as coherent statements. These songs are the pieces that seem to get more than their share of response from my listeners. I had fun selecting and recording this music, I hope you have as much enjoyment from it as I have had.

Three Out Of Four

by Stu Reynolds

Ita

by Heath Proskin

For Jimmy

by David "Dasher" Kempton, dedicated to Jimmy Smith

Save Your Love For Me

vocal by Dino Vera

About the Recording

Recording Acoustic Piano

Trying to create a modern, sensitive acoustic piano recording can pose quite a challenge in areas outside of the large artistic populations - Los Angeles, New York, Nashville. It can be difficult to fine an instrument with the sound that matches the tone of the album.

I recorded this album five times before I was satisfied with the recording quality. First I tried to record in the piano in my studio, but that is a pop-oriented instrument, and too bright for this project. Next, i tried to do it all electronically, but the MIDI keyboards do not have a proper touch for jazz phrasing and full dynamic rance. A studio in Santa Cruz had a nice instrument, but the midrange was played out by years of rockers pounding out rhythms. Then a friend in Carmel Valley offered, and I almost had the project there, but I was not playing well that day. Finally, at the Church of Religious Science in Pacific Grove, I recorded the tracks that you hear on the CD