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Sarah Jane Cion
Moon Song
Naxos Jazz 86054-2
Crotchet   Amazon US

1. A Pond Beneath the Moon
2. Last Cha-Cha in Longbeach
3. Moon Song
4. Samba Picara
5. Waltz for Fall
6. Blues for Chick
7. Suncycle
8. How Long has this been Going on
9. Solo Piano Medley
10. I'll Keep Loving You
11. Ballad of the Sad Young Men
12. What If

Sarah Jane Cion was unknown to me, before I heard this recording which was made in New York in June of 1999. She graduated from the New England Conservatory in 1990 with honours and distinction, both in composition and performance. She won the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. Seven of the tunes on the album are Sarah Jane's compositions, the other two are Johnny Mandel's, Moon Song and George Gershwin's, How Long has this been Going On. The latter is described on the sleeve note as a little known ballad!

The trio work well together and Chris Potter on Tenor, adds a bit of variety on Moon Song and Suncycle. Just why SJC has to muck about with the theme statement on How Long has this been Going On, to the point where it is unrecognisable I can't imagine.

I am convinced that we have not heard the best of Sarah Jane here, I would like to hear her with Drummer Billy Hart and Bassist Phil Palombi again, but this time playing a set of standards and paying at least some respect to the original compositions.

Reviewer

Don Mather

Don Mather is a Saxophone Player and Bandleader based in Coventry