Jay D'Amico - Tuscan Prelude

[GA Russell]

I've been doing some Wikipedia searching tonight. Mike Longo is a pianist who was Dizzy Gillespie's musical director. He also operates a small label called CAP - Consolidated Artists Productions. CAP Records has released all four albums by pianist Jay D'Amico.

From 1984 through September 10, 2001, D'Amico was the "pianist in residence" at Windows on the World, which was a restaurant and bar at the top of the World Trade Center's North Tower (which was destroyed September 11th). (In 2000, Windows on the World reported revenues of $37 million, making it the highest grossing restaurant in the US.)

More recntly, D'Amico went on vacation to Tuscany, and while there composeed the eleven songs on his new album Tuscan Prelude. This is a trio album, with Marc Johnson on bass and Ronnie Zito on drums. Johnson and Zito provide quiet support.

Most of D'Amico's compositions here have melodies that someone could write lyrics to, although not melodies of the sort Jon Hendricks would work on. There is a classical influence to his playing. I think it would be fair to call this contemporary third stream, but more jazzy than the ECM third stream records I have been listening to lately.

To compare apples to apples, I would like to hear D'Amico do an album of standards, so that I would see how he matches up with Bill Charlap. I think that I would like D'Amico better.

I like Tuscan Prelude a lot; but now that I have it, I wouldn't want another just like it. D'Amico is a much better pianist than composer. I can understand why he was selected by a restaurant which could afford anyone in New York they wanted.