Roger Kellaway - The Art of Interconnectedness (Live at the Vineyard) (2021)

It took ten years for this excellent concert by pianist Roger Kellaway at New York City's Vineyard Theatre to be issued; but it was worth the wait. Starting with a striding "You Took Advantage of Me," Kellaway captivates his audience. His slow dreamy interpretation of "Emily," a sauntering rhythmic "Creole Love Call," and a melancholy "New Orleans" are among the fine examples of the standards he played for the hushed audience. There are also a number of less familiar works that Kellaway plays just as well. Louis Armstrong's "Lazy 'Sippi Steamer Goin' Home" is a joyful masterpiece of stride piano. "Blackwall Tunnel Blues," by trombonist Charles Sonnastine, has a bluesy flavor but isn't actually a blues number. Kellaway features several of his own works, too. The upbeat Latin-flavored "Jorjana" and equally infectious "Un Canto Per La Place" are very attractive, but "Remembering You" is one Kellaway piece that will surely catch the listener's ear; co-written with actor Carroll O'Connor, it was the closing melody heard on each episode of the TV sitcom All in the Family. Believe it or not, the audience doesn't explode with the outburst one would expect for such a recognizable work. Highly recommended!