John J. "Jack" Humphrey began to study music at a very early age and practiced for hours a day seven days a week. His formal musical education culminated in his receiving a degree in Music from the prestigious New York University where he studied harmony, form and analysis, counterpoint, orchestration and all the other elements which comprise a great musical education.

His crisp and astonishing technique is the result of his long training in classical music.

Since receiving his degree, Jack, without ever forgetting its roots, set aside classical music and embarked on a life-long love affair with the music he loves best, the genre which has come to be known as "jazz." This musical journey, which Jack says "continues each magical day at my piano," has resulted in him feeling equally "at home" in each of the categories of this musical phenomenon, such as swing, blues, "popular," modern jazz and even Dixieland.

For example, this very album explores the swing category; Jack's accompaniment of such outstanding singers as Fran Warren and Toni Arden is in the "popular" element; Jack has also worked with Dixieland greats Henry "Red" Allen and Buster Bailey; Jack completes this jazz tour de force with blues and modern jazz performances with such outstanding recording artists as trumpeter/flugelhornist Joe Shepley, alto saxist Frank Strozier, trombonist Eddie Bert and percussionist Eddie Caccavale (who performs on this album).

Perhaps the most memorable event in Jack's career was in 1959, when as a very young man, he led his septet at Carnegie Hall along with the legendary Sarah Vaughn, the Modern Jazz Quartet and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band.

As did Jack, Peter Lawrence began studying music as a young boy and over the years has mastered all the reed instruments, although he confesses being partial to the clarinet, which he plays so magnificently on this recording.

Not only is Peter an outstanding instrumentalist, but by virtue of his musicianship and charming manner, he is one of the New York Tri-State's most sought after society orchestra leaders.

Jack is the lead pianist in the Peter Lawrence Society Orchestra, which has played for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush and in the area's most prestigious hotels and country clubs.

Until he switched over to the Rye Town Hilton for its Sunday brunch, Peter's quartet performed many years at the famous Glen Island Casino, the home of the "Big Band" era's legendary radio broadcasts. Demonstrating his versatility, Peter's Dixieland Ensemble entertained the fans at the 1986 New York Mets' World Series wins at Shea Stadium. The ensemble continues to play at Mets Opening Days, press parties and other special events at the stadium.

The title of this album is no accident. It is the result of Jack's decades-long collaboration with Peter. Their musical and personal relationship (they're no longer teacher and student) dates back to when Jack was a high school band director and Peter was his student. As this recording demonstrates, their years of playing together have produced impeccable and seemingly effortless musicianship and an album which will be played over and over again.

This recording is a tribute to the "King of Swing," Benny Goodman. His clarinet and the swing music which emanated from it for nearly 20 years embodied the best of jazz and popular styles during the period known as the "Swing Era."

Jack Humphrey has long been regarded one of the premier pianists in the New York Metropolitan and South Florida areas. He is a formidably powerful soloist and a pianist capable of exemplary accompanist and improvisational abilities. His tasteful and sophisticated solo work is the "jazz" glue for the album.

Peter Lawrence, so reminiscent of the great Benny Goodman (he even somewhat resembles his clarinet idol) brings melodic timbre, tone and technique and represents the "swing" component to this complicated genre.

The thematic "side by side" concept is dramatically illustrated in the opening bars of "Undecided" where Jack and Peter state the melody in the harmonic- "together" style. Jack's solos on "Cute" really swing and he shows how to "play pretty" on both cuts of the ballad "That's All."

Also available at this site is "The Sophisticated Piano Sounds of the Jack Humphrey Trio," a tasteful collection of easy listening songs composed by whom Jack calls "The Great American Composers." The recording is done in the swinging "cabaret" style such as heard in the famous Rainbow Room and the Carlyle Hotel.

Jack and Peter are available for bookings. Call (914)337-4642, (954)566-6211 or (914)948-0800.

Jack Humphrey & Peter Lawrence "Swingin' Along Side By Side" The Sophisticated Piano Sounds of The Jack Humphrey Trio 1. Avalon (V. Rose) 2. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (L. Alter) 3. Undecided (C. Shavers) 4. Don't Be That Way (B. Goodman) 5. Cute (N. Hefti) 6. Memories Of You (E. Blake) 7. Oh, Lady Be Good (G. Gershwin) 8. Rose Room / In A Mellow Tone (A. Hickmann / D. Ellington) 9. S'Wonderful (G. Gershwin) 10. That's All (B. Haymes) 11. Night And Day (C. Porter) 12. Moonglow (H. Hudson) 13. Honeysuckle Rose ("Fats Waller") 14. Moonlight In Vermont (K. Suessdorf) 15. I Got Rhythm (G. Gershwin) 16. Canadian Sunset (E. Haywood) 17. Sometimes I'm Happy (V. Youmans) 18. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (D. Ellington) 19. I May Be Wrong (H. Sullivan) 20. That's All (reprise) (B. Haymes) 1. Shiny Stockings (F. Foster) 2. Polka Dots & Moonbeams (J. Van Heusen) 3. Meditation (A. C. Jobim) 4. But Not For Me (G. Gershwin) 5. What's New (B. Haggart) 6. The Days of Wine & Roses (H. Mancini) 7. Misty (E. Garner) 8. All The Things You Are (J. Kern) 9. Nite Mist Blues (A. Jamal) 10. The Best Thing For You (I. Berlin) 11. When I Fall In Love (V. Young) 12. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (A. C. Jobim) 13. I'll Take Romance (B. Oakland) 14. Just One of Those Things (C. Porter) 15. Speak Low (K. Weill) 16. Satin Doll (D. Ellington, B. Strayhorn) 17. In My Solitude (D. Ellington) 18. Our Love Is Here To Stay (G. Gershwin)

The aforementioned albums may be purchased by either telephoning 914-337-4642 or ordering through the mail at: Jack Humphrey PO Box 904 Hartsdale, New York 10531-0904 CDs are priced at $12.00+$2.50 for shipping & handling. Cassettes are priced at $8.00+$2.50 for shipping & handling.

Please enclose a check with each order. Jack Humphrey may be reached via email at jackhumphrey@yahoo.com

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