Show Me!

Barney McClure, a former mayor of Port Townsend, Washington, hasn't been heard from in quite a spell. So it's a treat to welcome him back in a solid setting with the University of Central Washington Jazz Band. Everyone cooks up a storm on several originals and standards such as "Willow Weep For Me," "Slow Boat To China" and the title tune. An album highlight is "Spot," a McClure original reprised here in B3 attire. Barney's a force on B3 to be sure. But he's also one of the under-recognized swinging, buoyant, fiercely natural pianists as well. And I, for one, much prefer him at the Steinway or the Yamaha or the Boesendorfer.