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Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma - Swingin' Hard -November in CT and NYC! Matt Dwonszyk, a stellar bassist who’s performed with everyone from trumpeter Dr. Eddie Henderson to trumpeter Wallace Roney to pianist David Hazeltine, is thrilled to announce Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma, an album-length tribute to the late, great Hartford, Connecticut, one-man piano institution. Credited to “Matt Dwonsyk and Friends, ” the album is released today, September 27 via Truth Revolution Recording Collective. For such a crucial mission, Dwonszyk assembled a top flight, ever-shifting ensemble — which alternately includes vocalist Linda Ransom, spoken-word artist Alexis Roy, tenor saxophonist/flutist Kris Jensen, trumpeter/flugelhornist Joshua Bruneau, guitarist Tony Davis, and trombonists Steve Davis and Rose Roy. Holding it down on drums are Curtis Torian and Dwonszyk’s Vision Ahead ahead, Jonathan Barber; Nelson Bello appears on percussion. Dwonszyk comes to Donny Time with a wealth of experience and plaudits. A teacher of Jazz Bass at Central Connecticut State College, often called to coach ensembles at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, Dwonszyk has been hailed by trombonist Davis as “a calm, steady, inspired presence to any musical situation he is part of.” Additionally, trombonist Peter McEachern called him “deep, sincere, a fine musician… there is a decency to Matt that is palpable and this comes through in his music.” Noted saxophonist Kris Allen, “You can hear a lot of history in the melodies he plays. You can hear evidence of a lot of listening to musical elders." And as pianist Jen Allen recalled, “I was always blown away at how creative he could be… Matt is so humble in a real way, not in some fake way." Here, it’s not about Dwonszyk, though — as passionately and fluently as they musically deliver. No: it’s Donny Time. As the bassist explains: Hartford, Connecticut, is a crucial hub of the music, and DePalma was part and parcel with that scene. “A lot of great, legendary jazz musicians stop in Hartford, ” he says, noting its proximity to New York City and Boston and its colorful, defunct jazz oasis, the 880 Club. “And Don was the house pianist.” This meant the likes of baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, tenorist Junior Cook, and tenor/soprano saxophonist Frank Foster stepped through DePalma’s doorway. “Everybody that played with him [noted] that he would bring this energy — every gig was a party, ” Dwonszyk says. “He always had this infectious smile and groove; it was always about community with him, and having a good time. The music was never rocket science. It always came from the tradition and soul of the music.” Tragically, DePalma passed away from Covid in 2021; three years later, how better to tip a hat to the maestro than throw one heck of a party? Opener “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise” begins with a recording of DePalma himself, playing a solo piano cadenza, before launching into the band’s version of the standard DePalma loved. “There’s not really any music out there right now with him playing, ” Dwonszyk admits. “So, there are little snippets of him throughout the album, playing in past settings; we wanted people to be able to hear him again.” “It’s Donny Time” is a DePalma original. “This was always a party song. It’s very simple, ” Dwonszyk explains. “It was always about the groove, and just having a good time, and allowing people to improvise.” “Summer” is a snippet of DePalma playing over the chord changes of Gershwin’s “Summertime.” “Old Man” is another DePalma tune; Dwonszyk wrote lyrics on top. “Groovin’ on Wine” is a burbling Latin piece, which DePalma titled after his love of a good varietal. The DePalma snippets continue with “This Can’t Be”; this is followed by “Dancing On The Driveway, ” named by trombonist Roy. “Don would always come over to her house and hang out with her family, ” Dwonszyk remembers. “They would cook dinner and hang out on their driveway and listen to music.” DePalma’s “It’s About Time” continues the effervescent Latin vibes. Two standards follow: “What A Difference A Day Makes” and “The More I See You.” The former contains a snippet of vocalist Ransom, performing with DePalma in 2010; the latter is based on DePalma’s reharmonized arrangement. Archival track “Tones for Rose Bones, ” unlike the others, is not a snippet, but a full take — the bossa nova flips the Chick Corea title to pay tribute to Roy, his best friend. A feature for the horn players, “It Never Comes” crackles with imagination and energy. Another DePalma original, “Sunrise For The Love Of My Life” brings the ethereal, ECM vibes. “Donny’s Blues” is straight from the master’s live playbook: “You would just know that break time was coming, ” Dwonszyk quips. After a snippet of the man playing “Lastly” as a ballad, the album concludes with a recording of DePalma in 2011 performing “Donny Time” — which is now and forever. “It’s all just a good cause to spread people’s knowledge of who this guy was, and also show some of the music that he wrote, ” Dwonszyk says. “It’s been a beautiful thing to see people come together, to try and do something good for him.” One hundred percent of the proceeds from Donny Time go into the DePalma Roy Scholarship. For more information, please visit thedepalmaroyscholarship.com. Track Listing: Softly As In A Morning Sunrise It’s Donny Time Summer Old Man (feat. Linda Ransom) Groovin’ On Wine This Can’t Be Dancing On The Driveway (feat. Alexis Roy) It’s About Time What a Difference A Day Makes (feat. Linda Ransom) The More I See You (feat. Linda Ransom) Tones for Rose Bones It Never Comes Sunrise For The Love Of My Life Donny’s Blues (feat. Linda Ransom) Lastly Donny Time Musical Architect of the 880 Club: Don DePalma Whether on stage or in a club, a performance with Don DePalma was always a joyous and rollicking event. His vibe was contagious, and fans and band members alike came to his concerts to soak in his music and share in his energy. Sadly, Don’s tour of this earthly realm ended too soon in May of 2021 due to COVID. But whoever heard him play will always remember his infectious spirit, musical generosity, and all-around stellar chops. The party lives on, and this album is a tribute to the man and his music. Starting out as a trumpet player at age 13, Don hooked up in high school with the nationally known band “The Wild Weeds”. His career led him and his brother Bob to tours of Europe. As a musician, his work in the community connected him with bassist Paul Brown for his highly successful Monday Night Jazz series in Bushnell Park. On stage in 1970, Don opened for Led Zeppelin and Sly and the Family Stone. Transitioning from trumpet to piano, Don formed the band “Collaboration”, befriended saxophonist Jackie McLean, and became the musical director of Hartford’s Artists Collective. Don was a cofounder of Hartford’s legendary 880 Club, helping to launch the careers of budding stars Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Mario Pavone, Tom Chapin, Sue Terry, and the band Street Temperature. Guest artists at the 880 Club included such jazz luminaries as: Pepper Adams Frank Foster Junior Cook Slide Hampton Bill Hardman James Moody Sal Nestico Lou Donaldson Eddie Henderson George Coleman Joe Farnsworth Billy Hart Carmen Lundy Houston Person Freddie Waits John Scofield Kenny Garrett Clifford Jordan Curtis Fuller Rene McLean Dewey Redman "It has been my pleasure to work a great deal with Matt over the past few years not only in the classroom, but also on the bandstand with Ed Fast & Conga Bop, with pianist Don DePalma and vocalist Linda Ransom, and with my own quintet playing original compositions as well. Matt certainly has a very bright future. I am excited to hear where he and others of his generation take the music." -Steve Davis |
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