Patti Bown - Plays Big Piano

EU Import

In the late Fifties, musicians returning to New York from Seattle, Washington, brought back stories about a young pianist with a sound all her owna swinging performer who impressed every traveling band to hit town; undoubtedly someone to watch out for.

One of the most vocal and enthusiastic heralds of this new talent was the celebrated arranger Quincy Jones, also from Seattle. It was he who, given the opportunity of assembling his own band for the show, Free and Easy, finally brought her to New York late in 1959 to work as pianist with his band during their European tour.

But it was a discerning record industry man, George Painkin, who brought an acetate test record of her playing to Columbia. The impact was powerful, convincing and immediate. She was signed there and then and Plays Big Piano, is the magnificent resulting album. It confirmed what musicians said about her. She had what jazz players call time. The beat is always there, not vaguely implied; its explicitly heard and felt on every track of this album, including the ballads, and especially in the four Bown original blues and gospel-based compositions. Quincy Joness judgement is thoroughly vindicated on every track.

—Jordi Pujol