MARY PEARSON: YOU AND I
Liner Notes by Michael Bourne

A SEAMLESS TAPESTRY OF ROMANCE While drinking too many beers one jazzfest afternoon, I asked some of my fellow jazz scribes what tunes they never wanted to hear again. An immediate barrage of titles flew forth. Classics of Monk and Ellington. Great songs of the Gershwins, and many more. All tunes we'd heard on too many records, at too many concerts, and too often done so unworthily that the tunes became tiresome. And yet, ever since, song by song, I've heard someone play or sing these tunes so unusually, so delightfully, so deeply, that the songs were refreshed and sometimes sounded as if new. That's the magic of jazz, to literally re-create songs with every performance. You And I, this new album from singer Mary Pearson, does that aplenty. Other than her own songs, I've heard most of these songs ad nauseum -- but she's revitalized every one. And even more remarkable, the whole album feels as if it's one continuous (and beautiful) ballad. I didn't even notice at first that each song is a duet with a different instrument or instrumentalist, the one constant being Mary's own lovely voice. "I've always been a singer," says Mary. "My grandfather sang. My mother sang. My mother said I sang before I spoke." "I started playing the guitar when I was a teen. I sang nothing but sad folk songs.

"I started doing jazz in 1979. My first jazz gig was with Kuni Mikami at The Surfmaid on Bleecker Street, a combination piano bar and jazz club. That's where I first met and sat in with Fred Hersch. Fred worked there some weekends. Ironically, it wasn't at any of the jazzier venues where Mary blossomed as a performer. "I started playing in nursing homes-- enough to earn a living -- and that's where I became an entertainer. That's where I learned to sing things that would make people happy. Now I perform at better known jazz venues." And now comes You And I, an album that should make Mary Pearson much more visible to the listening public. "I started out with three songs I recorded with Fred Hersch and one I had done with David Lahm. I realized I had the beginnings of an interesting duo album so I added a few songs with pianist Lynne Arriale, a few tunes with guitarist John Hart, one with bassist Harvey Swartz, and a couple of tunes just with drums, played by Steve Davis." Mary arranged the songs more by suggestion than notation. "I play enough piano to demonstrate what I wanted. I said, 'This is how I play it. Now, you play it better."

"Lazy Afternoon" is the perfect prelude, instantly drawing the listener in. "Take Five" is all longing and suggestion and seduction. "The More I See You" is considered by Mary to be the definitive song on the album. Other highlights include the three original love songs by Mary, songs that, once heard by other singers, I expect will be sung more and more. You And I is a virtual suite of love songs, a seamless tapestry of romance. "You And I is about intimacy, devotion, seduction, passion and love. It's you and I from beginning to end." It's also the first album from the first singer signed to Arkadia Jazz -- and one hopes, just the first of many to come from this uniquely lyrical jazz singer, Mary Pearson.

Michael Bourne
"Singers Unlimited", WBGO, Newark

MARY'S THANKS
Two women friends and I were discussing age, not birth certificate age, but how old we felt we were -- chronology be damned! The 88 year old said 16, the 41 year old felt 28, the 50 year old, 32... the ages we were when we met our husbands. "So much for liberation! We still define ourselves by our men." said one. No, we decided, we're not defined by them, we've been freed by them. Thanks to John Kelly Canzoneri, my husband and partner in all things, for that and for everything. Thanks to my friends and family, especially my wonderful mother, Betty Pearson. For their inspiration and encouragement, thanks to Sam Arlen, Nancy Barell, Michael Bourne, Haywood Burns, Ed Chalfin, Roz Corral, Nancy Curry, Claude Garvey, Ira Gitler, Laraine Gladstone, Rhonda Hamilton, Barry Harris, Stanley Kay, Orrin Keepnews, Gayle Kirschenbaum, Art Labriola, Nancy Ann Lee, Steve Logan, Frank Malfitano, Barbara Moroch, Mark Murphy, Cobi Narita, Nanette Natal, Geoge Puello, Felicia and Dan Reymont, John Roche, Irv Rothbart, Jessica Sendra, Mario Serio, Barbara Sfraga, Howlett Smith, Jephre Solnick and Dr. Billy Taylor. Special thanks to Lynne Arriale, Steve Davis, John Hart, Fred Hersch, David Lahm, and Harvie Swartz for their sensitivity and artistry, and for the gift of their magic. And thank you, Bob Karcy.

Mary Pearson

Lyrics

I Am Yours/You Are Mine

There's precious little we can depend on
Some things may change others never come to be
Expectation often turns to disappointment
But not this time. I'm here for you. You're here for me

I will love you like I love you at this moment
I will want you like I wanted you the first time
I will need you, I will need you for a lifetime
I am yours, you are mine