Marian McPartland At the London House

AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden

Marian McPartland first began recording jazz in the late '40s, but it is unfortunate that many of her LPs from the late '50s and early '60s remain out of print. This 1958 trio performance at Chicago's London House features the pianist with a rhythm section consisting of bassist Bill Britto and drummer Joe Cusatis. She's in top form throughout the evening, playing some swinging renditions of standards such as "Like Someone in Love," "Give Me the Simple Life," and "Sweet and Lovely." But McPartland also treats her audience to Charlie Parker's roller coaster bop anthem "Steeplechase," Mary Lou Williams' "Easy Blues," Billy Taylor's lively "Tune for Tex," and her lush ballad "So Many Things" (a song that has appeared on more than one occasion on her long-running NPR series Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz). This record is long overdue to be reissued on CD.

Live Sept, 24th 1958 Trio performance at Chicago's "London House"
Cadet Argo
00:00 A1 Easy Blues 03:44 A2 Play Fiddle Play 07:44 A3 Like Someone In Love 11:05 A4 Tune For Tex 15:40 A5 Signature Blues 16:20 B1 Blues Intro 17:09 B2 Steeplechase 21:46 B3 Give Me The Simple Life 25:48 B4 Sweet And Lovely 28:50 B5 So Many Things Bass – Bill Britto Drums – Joe Cusatis Piano – Marian McPartland