Paul Motian - Standards plus One (2015)

In the 80s Paul Motian asked Stefan Winter and Hiroshi Itsuno (from Polydor K.K.), whether they would be interested in producing with him new interpretations of well-known and less known pieces from musicals. This was the beginning of the »Paul Motian On Broadway« recordings, a series of albums, which is considered an important milestone of unique interpretations of famous jazz standards. Stefan Winter, who recorded with Paul Motian over 25 albums, selected for »Standards plus One« seven works, which have been of special significance for Motion in his life.

The opening track is Jerome Kern's »They Didn't Believe Me«. Kern and Reynolds (lyrics) presented this song as an extension of their musical »The Girl from Utah«, which was premiered at the Knickerbocker Theatre in 1914. This was Kern's first big success. The music fitted in a perfect way to the prevalent fashion at the time when foxtrot turned into one of the most popular dances. And Kern also integrated ragtime influences and created a love song, which became a catchy tune and an an all-time super hit. In 1949 »They Didn't Believe Me« got performed as part of the musical »That Midnight Kiss«. Frank Sinatra, George Sanders, Dinah Washington, Charlie Parker, Elvis Costello, Stan Kenton and Harry Belafonte, to name a few, recorded this song. In 1969 Richard Attenborough used this piece under the name »We'll Never Tell Them« as the key sequence at the end of his movie »Oh! What a Lovely War«. For Motian this scene left a deep impression, since he himself had served in the Korean War only a few years before. Motian has experienced what it meant to fight for the fatherland.

Irving Berlin composed »How Deep is The Ocean« in 1932, which was used in the movie »The Life of Jimmy Dolan« with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. During that time Berlin had reached a low point, neither his career, nor his private life had been successful. The lyrics of the song present questions after questions, with the only exception being the second line: »How much do I love you? / I'll tell you no lie / How deep is the ocean? / How high is the sky?«. The following publication »How Deep Is The Ocean« became a big success.

»You And The Night And The Music« by Arthur Schwartz (1934) came from the Broadway show »Revenge with Music«. After World War II this piece turned into one of the most popular jazz standards, performed by Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Keith Jarrett and many others. Paul Motian presented this piece featuring his most important "fellow players" Bill Frisell (guitar) and Joe Lovano (sax) plus Charlie Haden (bass).

For the feature film »The Big Broadcast Of 1938« Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin composed »You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart«. Paul Motian interpreted this song with its legendary trio with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano. As a teenager Motian heard this composition by Thelonious Monk, with whom he played together when he was still very young. Motian was talking about that evening, the meeting with Monk was for him an unforgettable and exceptional event.

»Someone To Watch Over Me« is a key work by George Gershwin from the great American Songbook, composed in 1926 for the musical »Oh, Kay!«. Gershwin originally approached the song as an uptempo jazz tune, but his brother Ira convinced him that it might work much better as a ballad, because of the melody sounding better in a slow tempo. Charlie Haden and Paul Motian interpreted this song with a special, sensitive interaction, the sound of Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano developed fully and perfectly. A great homage to the Gershwin brothers.

The list of singers and jazz musicians, who have performed Cole Porter's »Just One Of Those Things« (from the musical »Jubilee«) is almost endless. Paul Motian asked Joe Lovano and Lee Konitz to perform this song in a dialogue. Together with Motian, Frisell and Haden this recording turned out to be a landmark recording of this world famous jazz standard.

Vivian Blaine sung »It Might As Well Be Spring«, composed by Richard Rodgers in the movie »State Fair« (1945) and this music received the Academy Award in the USA. In 1962 Paul Motian recorded this song for the first time for Bill Evans' album »Moon Beams«. Bill Evans formed (1958–1961) his trio with Paul Motian which was one of the most influential piano trios in the history of modern jazz. Later Paul Motian founded his own groups. Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and also Charlie Haden became most important companions. Almost 30 years after the recording with Bill Evans, Paul Motian recorded »It Might As Well Be Spring« with Frisell, Lovano and Haden in his own interpretation.

Paul Motian ended with his own composition »It Should've Happened A Long Time Ago« very often a set. Motian gave many concerts all over Europe and Japan. In the last couple of years of his life he stopped touring and he only played live at the Village Vanguard. From time to time »It Should've Happened A Long Time Ago« became the final chord of a concert.

Tracklist:

1. They Didn't Believe Me [Jerome Kern]
2. How Deep Is The Ocean [Irving Berlin]
3. You And the Night And the Music [Arthur Schwarz]
4. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart [Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin]
5. Someone To Watch Over Me [George Gershwin]
6. Just One Of Those Things [Cole Porter]
7. It Might As Well Be Spring [Richard Rodgers]
8. It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago [Paul Motian]

Personnel:

Paul Motian [drums]
Joe Lovano [tenor saxophone]
Bill Frisell [electric guitar]
Charlie Haden [acoustic bass]
Lee Konitz [soprano and alto saxophone; track 2 and 6]