Album review: Steve Million featuring Sarah Marie Young – Jazz Words

Steve Million (piano, composer, lyrics); Sarah Marie Young (vocals); Jim Gailloreto (sax, flute); John Sims (bass); Juan Pastor (drums)

This CD is being promoted as the work of pianist and composer Million, who wrote all the songs, rather than the singer being the main attraction. But that is not to detract from the singing, which is full of clear-voiced expressiveness.

I wish I knew as much music theory as many jazz musicians do, so that I could explain more clearly why this album is so, so good. The songs are described as contemporary jazz tunes with a post-bop edge. I'd say they are very varied and interesting in a good way, with some original sounds and Monkish references, an influence which is acknowledged by Million. Every song just sounds so right, the lyrics fit well and the instruments play to perfection.

For instance the opening track, Heavens To Monkitroyd, shows just what the band can do, a Monkish piano start, lively bop singing, fast short solos from sax then piano, fours from drums and everyone else in turn, an inventive drum solo, all good clean jazz fun. Oh, and the song concerns a woman deciding whether she should take a chance with a man she sees in a bar.

Then we have a jazz waltz, followed by a sadder song about Million's daughter who left home, then a song with a hymn-like tune concerning 9/11 (lyrics 'These are not to be sorrowful seeds we sow'). There is a song in 5/4 time, Nika's Changes, about Million's feelings when his other daughter was born, with a long skilled sax solo then repeated piano riffs played behind a drum solo.

There's even a song about the divorce from his first wife, Loss, and the album is rounded off with a song about 'finding one's inner truth'. I don't know about that, but the track is a suitable ending, a gentle swing, and Ms Young singing a duet with the sax, which is always pleasing.

Million grew up in Boonville, Missouri and he is well known on the Chicago-area jazz scene. He studied jazz at university and also English and he now teaches classes in jazz piano, jazz ensembles, and improvisation. This is his seventh CD as a leader. Sarah Marie Young won the Montreux Voice Competition in 2011, judged by Quincy Jones. 

The album is available everywhere. Ann Alex

See
www.stevemillion.com

Heavens To Monkitroid; Mis'ry Waltz; Missing Page; Hymnal; Nika's Changes; Cold Wind; Loss; The Way Home.