For The Love Of Mercer Volume 1 - With The Laurie Holloway Trio

Recorded at F1 Digital at BBC TV Music Studio, London, England, September 1996. From the sleeve notes: "I had one of the best times of my vocal life researching and working with Johnny Mercer's wonderful songs. We recorded both volumes 1 and 2 with more laughs, giggles and pure joy than any of us can remember for a long time. Marion M". Marion Montgomery lives and thrives in England, but the lady's roots, her musical tradition, is in the American South where she was born. Thus, she leads off Volume 1 with "Pardon My Southern Accent", which is entirely appropriate! Johnny Mercer had those same roots, same traditions, and that's why many of us believe that Marion is the definitive vocalist of the Mercer Catalogue. Marion knows where Johnny was comin' from. She has complete understanding of every nuance of Johnny's unique, rich, powerful portrait. she expresses his wry, witty, humourous wordcraft with back-porch familiarity. Beyond the bond of geography, she shares Mercer's love for jazz. She sings jazz comfortably, exquisitely and her warmth and sincerity reflect that. In this, the first of two volumes, in addition to the solid-gold standards such as "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "That Old Black Magic", "Days Of Wine And Roses", "Blues In The Night" and "Moon River" (which she masters with fresh approaches) she adds the less familiar, but beautifully crafted "Anyplace I Hang My Hat", "Skylark", and "This Time The Dream's On Me". Thank-you Lady Marion for your research and respect for the best. And, thank-you, Laurie Holloway, for ever tasteful keyboards, stimulating arrangements, and the tight unity of your trio. These are perfect-Mercer, perfect-Montgomery Volumes which do honour to the uncomparable, gifted, inspired Mr Mercer. Rest easy, Johnny, Marion has just told the world how much she loves you! Jack Segal, 1996