While much of jazz education has moved to the halls of academia, musicians will tell you the most important lessons are still learned on the bandstand. In Cleveland, the professor of this informal university is bass player Lamar Gaines. Gaines has served as a mentor to several generations of jazz musicians, sharing his vast knowledge of the music he played for a half century. He’s the veteran who let young musicians sit in during the last set at various Cleveland clubs, or hauled them around to jam sessions to meet older players. Through word and example, Gaines showed the way a true jazz musician deals with his fellow players, club owners and union folks.

Of course, the main reason Gaines’ words carry weight is that he Is a master musician. Gaines’ bass jumps out at you in the manner of George Duvivier and Ray Brown. Like those players, Gaines has a beautiful dark tone which he employs with power and precision. Gaines is incredibly musical and demonstrates a personal approach to the instrument. Unfortunately, even with a career that has included performing with Teddy Wilson, Joe Williams, Milt Jackson and Roland Kirk, there are few recorded examples of Gaines’ work.

Enter pianist Mike Petrone, one of those musicians who benefited greatly from the bass player's counsel. Petrone conceived this recording as a way to showcase Gaines’ brilliance as a bass player. Don't panic - this isn't a disc filled a series of ponderous bass solos. The music that Petrone, Gaines and drummer John Stebal play isn't that kind of jazz. You'll hear it as soon as you pop in the disc. Theirs is music filled often with joy, sometimes with melancholy, but always with feeling. Most importantly, this trio has what pianist Roger Kellaway said made his fellow pianist Oscar Peterson’s music so special - “it’s the will to swing.” Making sure the “will to swing” is at the core of his music is the greatest lesson Gaines has shared with his fellow musicians....and those of us who have had the pleasure to hear him play.

-Dan Poletta has been the host of nighttime jazz on WCPN 90.3FM-ideastream in Cleveland since 1987.

Special thanks:
Tina Rossi, Sage and Solana Petrone, Joe Santosousso, Paul Anthony, Jared (Sold to the bride) Chaney, Robert Kassouf, Robert Rotatori Esq., Terry Poltorek, Paul Hamann, Al Moss, Marty Block, Roy King, Ed Stephens, Kurt Felgemaker, John Minco (& Sylvia), Dominic Visconsi, Brendan Ring, Nick & Bettie Rossi, John Mc Coy, Becki Smith, Tom & Margie McKinney, Fenton and Charlie, George Bielert, Andy, Mary, Dave, Johnny, and Maruna & Sweeney, too.

Engineer's Notes:
Mike Petrone played a Yamaha 6' 5" model G5 Grand Piano. Microphones used were a matched pair of AKG 414 ULS feeding a John Hardy M-1 Precision DC-Servo preamplifier connected directly to Digidesign Protools via analog interface. Lamar Gaines bass configuration was a combination of pickup/amplifier (Gallien-Krueger w/ L.G. proprietary processing), and live room-acoustic microphones. Amplifier mic was a Sennheiser MD421U and live mic was Sennheiser MD441U. John Stebal’s microphone configuration consisted of Neumann U-87i, AKG 451EB, Electrovoice RE-20 and Shure SM-57.

Ambiance enhancement was a vintage EMT140 steel plate reverberator w/ tube electronic amplifiers. Recording console used for bass/drums and monitoring was a D&R Avalon. No EQ, compression/limiting or other processing was used during tracking/mixing of this recording. Only minor EQ/dynamic limiting was used during the final mastering process. This recording was tracked and mixed using Klein & Hummel O198 Precision High Resolution studio monitors.

Engineer- Greg James Studio- Clockwerke Sound, Cleveland, Ohio USA

Blue
Mike Petrone Trio
Goblin Bee Records

What can you say about pianist, entertainer and Lakewood native Mike Petrone that hasn't already been said? It's tough, actually. He's a talented singer/songwriter, a crafty composer, a well-regarded jazz and studio session musician and a band leader to boot. Petrone has written for film, television and stage for over 20 years; his original scores include the films Flattered, The Longest Day, and War Story, an award-winning silent film. He's also worked with a Rolodex full of brilliant musicians. And on any night of the week, you can see this hep cat tickle the ivories at Johnny's Downtown. Kinda rare, wouldn't you say?

Petrone's 16th studio affair is called Blue, released with fellow musicians Lamar Gaines (acoustic bass) and John Stebal (drums). Gaines is one of the last "old school jazz bassists," with a stellar, 50-year career under his belt. Stebal's work, which is also found on Petrone’s previous trio effort, Blooming at Nighttown, is beautiful in its simplicity. These three musicians together as The Mike Petrone Trio offer warmth, charm, and elegant sophistication wrapped up in a jazz unit. Blue clocks in at 7 tracks and 45 minutes, delivering tasty vibes and classics like Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home" and the W.C. Handy classic, "St. Louis Blues." In all, Blue is a return to the heyday of the jazz trio; it might be meant for the jazz piano aficionado, but it's no so highbrow as to be inaccessible. Perfect as a backdrop for your cocktail hour, dinner party or Sunday morning ritual, Blue is local jazz at its finest.

Mike Petrone performs at Johnny's Downtown, 1406 W. Sixth St., Monday through Friday. Visit him online at http://mikepetrone.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com