miles donahue justpas sing thru - content.grammy.com

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just passing thrumiles donahue

This is direct and unpretentious music, from the heart and soul. These musiciansrepresent some of the best in the business. The focus is on the communicative elementsof the compositions and the collective (group) sound.

“Hear My Words” is an ingenious melody line that explores the many sides of theshuffle feel, eventually settling into a samba and then to a 1/2-time funk feel. Notmany musicians can play the saxophone and the flugelhorn with the panache andmusicality of Miles Donahue. Exceptional musicianship!!! Steve offers the first ofhis many amazing solos.

“Living Room Blues” THE BLUES!!! Every jazz recording must echo a referenceto the form that originated this music. This version of the genesis allows for a beautiful bass solo. Nothing feels as a good as a shuffle blues.

“Killing Me Softly” is an ingenious re-sculpture of a classic song, and features beautiful soprano playing by Miles.

“Just Passing Thru” has a gospel feel in the piano intro. Miles sings the melody expressively, as this composition requires.

“Donny’s Groove” blends Latin-tinged harmonic colors with an explorative tenorexcursion. The rhythm section is locked into the vibe, providing a supportive environment for this very rhythmic piano improvisation.

“A Man of a Few Words” opens with an introspective statement that morphs intoalto soulfulness, buoyed by some beautiful electric piano comping. The result soundslike playing above a cloud.

1. Hear My Words 5:05

2. Living Room Blues 5:35

3. Killing Me Softly 6:29

4. Just Passing Thru 3:33

5. Donny’s Groove 5:33

6. A Man of Few Words 5:37

7. 7/9/65 3:49

8. Railroaded 6:59

9. Ireland 4:23

Miles Donahue - alto, tenor & soprano saxophones, trumpet, keyboards on tracks 7,9

Joe Santerre - electric bassLarry Finn - drums

Ricardo Monzon - percussionAlain Mallet - keyboards on tracks 2,3,5,6

with Mike Stern - guitar on tracks 7,8,9

Joey Barbato - accordion on track 9Sal Difusco - guitar (head & first solo on track 9)

Steve Hunt - Fender Rhodes on track 1, piano & organ on track 4

Executive Producer: Neal WeissProduced by Miles Donahue

Recorded by Robbie Weymouth at Jon Chase Productions, Methuen, MAMixed & Mastered by Jon Chase at Jon Chase Productions, Methuen, MA

Photography & package design by David Arruda Jr

All tracks by Miles Donahue, Midoneda Publishing, BMI

Except track 3, Killing Me Softly, by Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel, Warner-Tamerlane Pub. Corp; obo Rodali Music; Words West LLC, BMI

Thank You to my wife Donna, children David and Neil, and grandchildren Kelsey, Emma, Kate and Jack as well as

my daughter-in-law Joanie Dalbey Donahue.

In my life I have had the good fortune of intersecting with some amazing people. Charlie Banacos, a friend I met in college,

inspired me and helped me to become a better musician. Jerry Bergonzi is a lifelong friend and mentor who

plays music for music’s sake: a true artist.

Thank you to the musicians on this recording. Alain Mallet is truly one of the most accomplished musicians I have ever crossed paths with. Larry and Joe established a

groove worthy of a king. Sal Difusco practiced “Ireland” forhours and came to the studio well-prepared. Mike Stern is one of my favorite guitar players who is always the same: amazing.

Steve Hunt and Joey Barbato are two of Boston’s (and everywhere’s) best keyboard players.

Jon Chase has been my recording partner for over 40 years and is the best at what he does.

Thanks to Neal Weiss for supporting jazz music and musicians.He is the rare person who works to promote an art form

without regard for monetary reward. The world needs morepeople like Neal, honest and dedicated to keeping jazz alive.

“7-9-65” On this selection, an angular 7/4 groove, Mike evokes some great guitar playing. Who says odd meters can’t swing? They haven’t heard this group of musicians.

“Railroaded” is a great line with a funk underpinning and which includes an interesting scoring of the melody, beautiful ensemble playing in horns and guitar,and a searching soprano solo by Miles which captures the vibe of the composition.Mike Stern is one of the great guitar voices in the industry, and his solo here tellsyou why.

“Ireland” is Miles’ nod to his ancestral origins, with some modern twists. He hasincluded a bit of a rock anthem in the introduction and interlude, and Mike providesa bit of blues into the mix.

Great Music!!!

Great compositions played by great musicians.

- Bill Pierce

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Bill Pierce is a noted tenor player who played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the '80sand Tony Williams in the '90s, among others. An accomplished composer, and bandleaderwith six CDs under his name, he is also the former chair of the woodwinds department atBerklee College of Music in Boston.