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BOB FLORENCE ANOTHER SIDE

For many years now, when fronting his own big band, THE LIMITED EDITION, Bob Florence has been tempting his audiences with choice, but too short interludes on the piano, only very rarely did he allow his playing to go beyond the odd chorus or be more than setting up the next ensemble passage.

We have all been asking, "when are you going to do a solo album Bob?" Well, now we have our wish. Bob Florence is a classically trained pianist, who, as well as acknowledging the many wonderful popular tune-smiths of the past, the great jazz standards, spends a lot of time absorbing the classics, conciously or sub-conciously allowing the listening to influence his own need to compose.

Here he sits down before a beautiful Yamaha grand, and with a number of melodies in mind, allows himself the luxury of taking a a journey through some original and standard tunes including LAURA, STELLA BY STARLIGHT, EMILY, GETTING SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, TAKE ME HOME, THE TROUBLE WITH HELLO IS GOODBYE, I WILL SAY GOODBYE, AULD LANG SYNE as well as WESTLAKE, A MIRROR IMAGE and Bill Dobbin's ELEGY.

There is a genuine feeling of informality about this session, he is doing what he loves to do, which is just sitting and playing. Bob has told me that he does not mind if you allow the music to be a background or enjoy it on a more intellectual level. Whatever, this album has the aura of being a classic and his big band followers will find that they will be adding a dimension to their listening and many will be waiting for that piano speciality at his next concert.

This is a beautiful, fulfilling satisfying CD, like having this great pianist in your lounge playing just for you. Hope that does not sound too trite but the intimacy of the album is one of it's most appealing virtues. I have copies in the UK. E-mail me for details here.

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