Featured Artist: Molly Flannery Quintet

CD Title: Slow Dance At The Asylum

Year: 1999

Record Label: Flannery Ahern Productions

Style: Contemporary Jazz

Musicians: Molly Flannery, leader, composer, piano. Guest artists include: Tom Zicarell on soprano and tenor saxophones, percussion. Jane Wang on acoustic bass. Michael Zank on drums, voice, percussion. Steve Elliott on trombone, voice, whirling tube, goat toe nails. Melissa Kassel on voice. John Turner on bass. John McLellan on drums.

Review: Sometimes you come across such a wonderful jazz talent it is hard to define and explain that person's special gifts as an artist! Such is the case with the wonderfully talented and imaginative jazz pianist, Molly Flannery. Molly Flannery is a master of style and technique, and every note she plays is filled with power and sensitivity.

Molly Flannery has a topnotch group of musicians with her on this excellent CD titled SLOW DANCE AT THE ASYLUM. There are 10 selections in this collection. Great jazz vocalist Melissa Kassel sings as Molly Flannery plays on the classic standard, Lerner/Lowe's "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," backed with the talents of John Turner on bass and John McLellan on drums. Other great songs include Molly Flannery's compositions, "Seven," "Island Reverie," and "Bittersweet." Each song showcases the brilliance of Molly Flannery's piano playing!

Melissa Kassel does the vocals on her composition titled "For Kim (1958-1990)" which is a highly emotional and sensitive delivery, sure to find many jazz vocal fans as a new favorite. The creative Jane Wang on acoustic bass, Tom Zicarelli on soprano & tenor saxophones and percussion, Michael Zane on drums, voice, percussion, Steve Elliott on trombone, voice, whirling tube, and goat toe nails, each contribute to make this an outstanding jazz CD release for the jazz listening audience.

A song, "Chant of Paradise," gives the jazz listeners a treat as they have a chance to hear Molly Flannery on vocals with Michael Zank. Each title in this collection offers the jazz listener something different, something unusual, something unique! "La Cathedrale Engloutie" is a memorable arrangement performed by Molly Flannery with vocals by Michael Zank.

Molly Flannery and her Molly Flannery Quintet have a winner of good listening jazz music with their release, SLOW DANCE AT THE ASYLUM. This is contemporary jazz music at its very best, and Molly Flannery is in top form!

The song, "Island Reverie," written and performed by Molly Flannery is a beautiful jazz song and worthy of much airplay time, for it is something jazz listeners will find enjoyable listening to again, and again. "Island Reverie" is a jazz song that will endure.

SLOW DANCE AT THE ASYLUM is a great listening adventure, flawless in all ways, entertaining! Excellent.

The Molly Flannery Quintet is jazz performances at the finest, always intelligent, innovative, and enjoyable. Molly Flannery is a true master of melodic improvisations, compositions, and unique in her piano performances.

Record Label Website: afiproductions@netscape.net

Reviewed by: Lee Prosser