Fall, 1998 New Recordings Because of the recording industry's present state of mind, I, like others, have decided that responsibility for documentation of one's art rests with the artist.  Therefore, I have begun producing a series of recordings that will document my work at this point in time.  These may be sold to a company whose interest in the art form parallels mine or, barring that, will be released under the auspices of either a cooperative label or my own label.  Two CDs have been completed at this time, a duo recording with pianist Bill Mays and a duo recording with pianist Joe LoCascio.  A third, a collaboration with drummer Ed Soph featuring Bill Mays, bassist Rufus Reid and guest saxophonist Dave Liebman, is scheduled to be completed in September.  The duo CD with Bill was recorded at Nola Studios in NYC and was co-produced by my friend Jack Cortner and recorded by engineer Jimmy Czak.  Those of you who are loyal readers of Cadenzas know well my feelings about performing with Bill.  He and I tour once or twice each year and also perform at individual venues around the country.  In addition, I was featured on Bill's recent Concord CD, Mays In Manhattan.  This CD, Two As One, includes several original compositions by Bill, writings by Swedish composer Lars Jansson and saxophonist Ted Nash, and standards such as Victor Young's Beautiful Love, Michel Legrand's You Must Believe In Spring and Sonny Rollins' Airegin.  Bill's uncanny sensitivity delves deeply into the mood of each piece and creates the perfect setting in which I was able to explore each tune to its fullest.  As always, working with Bill leaves me with a wonderful sense of fulfillment. In the CD Dialogues/Poetry, Joe LoCascio and I have recorded a mix of six original compositions and four standards.  Forming a strong union, we take a sweeping excursion that seeks to mine all the emotional possibilities inherent in these beautiful compostions. The standards include Dave Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way, Victor Young's My Foolish Heart,  John Coltrane's Giant Steps and Jerome Kern's I'm Old-Fashioned.  Among Joe's compositions are A Widow's Tale, Papillon, Love's Final Glance and The Misfits.   We recorded this CD in Houston - between gigs - at a wonderful studio on the campus of San Jacinto State College.  Ray Dillard, a member of the Canadian percussion group Nexus, was our engineer.  Ray has big ears and achieved wonderful sound and balance on this recording. The collaborative CD with Ed Soph featuring Bill Mays and Rufus Reid will be recorded at Red Rock Studios in Delaware Water Gap, Penn. Jack Cortner co-produced this set, as he has with almost every recording I've made under my own name.  His "ears" guarantee the correct balance of sound throughout the spectrum of music, which frees the musicians from all technical concerns and allows them to just go into the studio and play. Having played on three concerts this spring with Dave Liebman and having thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of contrast and excitement he creates, both Ed and I wanted him to be a guest soloist on this recording.  I love being with all these musicians because they are so "open," and everything is so extemporaneous that one never knows what to expect.  I find them always inspiring, ever sensitive, deeply intense. Their musicality is unquestionable. The compositions include several originals by Bill Mays, one by me (will wonders never cease!) and several standards, including "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes," "Speak Low," and "Your Own Sweet Way." A CD set for release on the Max Productions label this fall is The Marvin Stamm Quartet Live at Just Jazz At The Majestic, which was recorded in that club in St. Louis a short while back.  This set features pianist Ray Kennedy, bassist Tom Kennedy and drummer Terry Clarke. Brothers Ray and Tom are St. Louis natives and are remarkable musicians.  A former member of Steps Ahead, Tom travels these days with Dave Weckl's new band.  Ray is a member of John Pizzarelli's trio and travels extensively with him.  Terry Clarke is known to most of you as the former drummer with Rob McConnell's Boss Brass.  Today, he travels  internationally with guitarist Jim Hall, Toshiko Akyoshi's big band and singer Helen Merrill, among others.  Included also on the recording are originals by Kenny Wheeler and Bob Mintzer and a mix of standards.

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