Marc Steiner Daniel - Hear What You Say

NOTES FROM MARC: Having moved to Seattle two years ago, I hooked up with some wonderful musicians and am finding the northwest as equally beautiful as different from New Mexico - - the flugal playing was a revisit back to my Don Ellis days - The CD DRLEER - - a bit of alter ego exploration; campy fun DON'T WAIT TOO LONG - to love; silly love song ALL FALL DOWN - - Newmanesque - my ode to a country gone mad DO NOT PLAY - - Uptempo - I remember her as a pain in the butt back in Westwood - nice 'Garica-ish' guitar by Jason MORNING LIGHT - - to the girls, always HEAR WHAT YOU SAY - - Ballad: to the lonely ones BLESS THIS LIFE - - Jazzy ballad to those giving their vows POWER TO WOO - - 40's jazzy fun to romantic love THEATRE VANGUARD - Campy Leon Russell/N'Orleans feel to the crazy actors back in Santa Monica (ONE MORE) LONELY SONG - - country ballad: ah, to the lonely REVEIWS Blue Note Review PIANO MAN In the '70's, a street-wise kid named Billy Joel dubbed himself the "Piano Man" and proceeded to catapult to superstardom. That was about the same time that Los Angeles-raised Marc Daniel Steiner made the transition from Don Ellis inspired jazz trumpeting to playing piano in rock bands. He spent the next 10 years doing just that before moving to Albuquerque in 1987 to take care of other important business like raising his sons. Having graduated from fatherhood -- his sons have since made the all-important transition from childhood to adulthood -- Steiner has turned his attention back toward songwriting and performing. Steiner mixes poignant ballads with uptempo material, often adding sarcastic and humorous lyrics that make his music highly entertaining and engaging on many levels. The centerpiece of all his compositions, though, is his feel for beautiful, flowing melodies. His vocal work has the same disarming quality that made Billy Joel's early records memorable - - an uncanny ability to wedge intermittent minor key resolves into upbeat arrangements. But the comparison to Joel stops there. It is rare among pianists -- save for Monk and a handful of other jazz and blues pianists -- to develop a truly signature sound on the instrument, but Steiner makes short work of creating his own unique voice on the keys. His playing is marked by the melding of many styles, blues being the most noticeable. And within his own original repertoire, Steiner seems to move with ease between Lennon-esque melancholy and McCartney-like urgency. In fact, his voice often hints at the oppositional solo piano compositions penned by the famous ex-Beatles. Marc Daniel Steiner creates joyful, honest music while running the gamut stylistically. -Michael Henningsen, Alibi, New Mexico 1998.

1) Dr Leer
2) Don't Wait Too Long
3) All Fall Down
4) Do Not Play
5) Jordan Speaks
6) Morning Light
7) Hear What You Say
8) Bless This Life
9) Power to Woo
10) Theatre Vanguard
11) (One More) Lonely Song