S' Wonderful!

Terry Eaton & Bruce Burrell of Satin Swing

Wonderful indeed.  The partnership of Terry Eaton and Bruce Burrell on this, Satin Swing's second CD, reflects the remarkable symbiosis of their fifteen year collaboration as well as the alignment of their instincts for interpretation and improvisation.  Their signature ability to elaborate on the melody of a song without losing respect for the composer's intention is apparent in such tunes as "Bye Bye Blues" and the medley beginning with "Please Be Kind."  Throughout this recording, Terry's synthesis of inventive chords and melodies fuses with the silken quality of Bruce's reeds in subtle explorations of music both rare and familiar.

The extent and variety of their mutual repertoire is a source of perpetual fascination to those regular patrons of their evenings at Acton's ScupperJack's and elsewhere.  The sampling here extends from the most beloved classics of American popular music to obscure treasures stored in Terry's apparently infinite internal music library and Bruce's painstakingly annotated collections of their music.  The opening medley, beginning with the very appropriately titled McHugh melody, "A Lovely
Way to Spend an Evening," provides characteristic illustration of their capacity to weave seamlessly together decades of the American musical heritage.

Terry Points to Bruce's chill-provoking improvisational skills on solos such as "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Lady Be Good."  She is also perpetually impressed by his ability to adapt effortlessly to the changing rhythms of her left hand; wherever her unpredictable imagination leads, she says, he is instantly in synch with her.  Bruce in turn comments that Terry never ceases to amaze him with her vast repertoire of all kinds of songs (ballads, waltzes, show tunes, latin, country-western...) which she can recall any time a tune is mentioned.  He says she has an uncanny knack for knowing what tempo and chords best suit a song and will choose ones that vastly improve its sound.

This aptly titled collection glides across generations of music with an easy grace that belies the subtle sophistication of its sound.

"ScupperJack's in Acton is the place --- the place to see, and better to hear, Terry Eaton (piano) and Bruce Burrell (saxophone) perform.  Recently I spent a lovely evening there with a direct eye and ear to the balcony where they play.  Their music has such a full sound, I thought there were more than two musicians playing.  On this CD I delight in her bass lines, the smooth key changes, and the delicate chord voicings.  Bruce has such a pleasing sound on saxophone, and they compliment each other so well.  Fifteen years of playing together really pays off.

Terry, I enjoyed your original song, "Deborah Lynne," which you wrote for your daughter.  Thanks Ms T and Bruce, for allowing me to be part of your CD in these notes and in previewing your sweet sounds."

--- Paul Broadnax

Scupper Jack’s Restaurant & Bar, Rt. 2A, 3 Nagog Park (Mall) Acton, MA 01720 (978) 263-8327