Havin' Myself A Time

Kim Parker, vocal
Kenny Drew, piano
Mads Vinding, bass
Ed Thigpen, drums

Recorded November 25 & 25, 1981
at Barigozzi Studios, Milano
Engineeer: Giancarlo Barigozzi
Producer: Giovanni Bonandrini
Cover Photography: Tony Strohecker
Cover Art: Rob Anderson
Cover Design: Pick Up Studios
1982 Soul Note 1210331/2/4

This is Kim's first album as a leader, but she's been a part of the jazz scene for her life. She was boppin' in the cradle, scattin' in the schoolyard, competing and copping top honors at collegiate jazz festivals, and now is touring and recording with many of the best jazz musicians in the world. I confess to bit of bias, but I believe she's one of the best jazz singers to emerge in recent years.
Jazz singing is one of the most difficult areas in which to achieve even a modicum of success. One only has to note the relatively small number of truly great jazz singers who have maintained successful careers. One of the great obstacles is the "show-biz" aspect of the profession. People expect a sax or trumpet player to be jazzy. A singer, however, is expected to entertain the audience with musical pictures and patter, usually popular and dreadful, or nostalgic and pompous. This is usually at variance with most jazz peoples' personalities. And this misconception by most of the musical public has lessened the careers of many talented singers, as well as instrumentalists, who are not considered entertaining or "commercial" enough to survive in the music marketplace.

Survival is a key word in any evaluation of an artist.

Hang in and sing the truth and eventually people will listen. "The "truth," like her sister, "honesty," is an absolute! Well, having had some small part in rasing Kim, I know something about her truth, honesty, and equally important, her strength and dedication. She's been hangin' in, singing the truth for a long time (as measured by the jazz calendar). I hope that all of the people who love music will listen to this mature artist interpret quality material with taste and understanding.

The support given by the trio deserves a word of praise. Most of the tunes are relatively obscure and not yet part of the jazz repertory. The players give no indication that they are reading new material. This is musical magic! Kenny Drew is an old friend whose work I've always admired. He was also the first pianist that I worked with when I came to Europe in 1968. Like all players of quality, he gets better and better. He's a truly sensitive accompanist and world class musician. I'm proud to call Ed Thigpen a friend as well. This man has always known how to play a song, and his brushwork is the envy of every drummer I've ever known. And he can swing you out the door! Mads Vinding maintains that traditional edge that the Danes seem to have on the bass (must be due to that guy with four names!)

Welcome to Kim's first album, I hope it sells a million. The family could use a hit! Buy a couple.

- Phil Woods

1. Havin' Myself A Time
(Leo Robin - Ralph Rainger, Paramount Music Corp. - ASCAP)

2. Paris Is A Lonely Town
(Harold Arlen - Y. Harburg, Harwin Music Co.)

3. A Sleepin' Bee
(Harold Arlen - Truma Capote, Harwin Music Co.)

4. Everything I Love
(Cole Porter, Chappel & Co., Inc.)

5. The Underdog
(Al Cohn - Dave Frishberg, Swiftwater Music - ASCAP)

6. Rain Go Away
(Phil Woods, Musique Dubois - BMI)

7. Azure
(Duke Ellington, American Academy of Music, Inc.)

This album is lovingly dedicated to my Gram who for 84 years has been having herself a time. She's a continuing source of inspiration to all who know her, and "Gram" to jazz musicians everywhere. She's one of the truly remarkable people of this century and I love her with all my heart.

I would like to thank all the people who gave their love and talent to make this record possible: Giovanni, Giancarlo, Kenny, Mads, and Ed, my Pop, Mark Kirk, Tony Strohecker, and Rob Anderson; also, a big thank you to all my wonderful friends who have encouraged me through the years; and, most of all, to Phil, my Ma, and Bird for filling my head with only the most beautiful of sounds.

- Kim Parker