Farley's House of Pianos in Madison, Wisc., specializes in the restoration of 19th and 20th century pianos. When owner and president Timothy Farley isn't managing his team of craftsmen, he and his wife, Renee, have sponsored and recorded dozens of classical and jazz concerts at their store. In 1991, the Farleys were on a jazz cruise when they met pianist Dave McKenna. During their on-board chat, Tim mentioned that his team had restored a Model C Steinway that pianists were calling "The Voice of God." [Photo above of Dave McKenna courtesy of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame]
Naturally, McKenna wanted to play the piano, so the Farleys arranged for a series of McKenna performances in Madison that included the Model C at the store. In 1991, the Farleys recorded McKenna playing the Model C, solo, at Farley's House of Pianos. The result has just been released by Arbors as Dave McKenna in Madison.
McKenna was born in Woonsocket, R.I., and played his first professional jazz piano gigs as a teenager in Boston. In the late 1940s and early '50s, he was a member of big bands led by Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman before serving in the Army. After his discharge, McKenna began playing solo piano and rarely left the East Coast, living for years on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He also recorded as a sideman on many ensemble recordings. In the 1980s, he played regularly at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.
McKenna's first solo album was in 1955, for ABC-Paramount. The album was called Solo Piano. Other significant solo recordings were Both Sides of Dave McKenna for Honey Dew in 1972 and Solo Piano in 1973 for Chiaroscuro. In the 1990s he began recording solo albums for Arbors.
On Dave McKenna in Madison, the song choices are beautiful: Too Marvelous for Words, a Vernon Duke medley (featuring Autumn in New York, April in Paris, Cabin in the Sky, What Is There to Say?, I Can't Get Started and I Like the Likes of You), Craziology, a Soon medley (featuring Soon by Rogers & Hart and Soon by Gershwin, as well as Rose Room), a medley consisting of You're Driving Me Crazy and Moten Swing, Exactly Like You, Detour Ahead and a time medley (Bidin' My Time, Time on My Hands, Some Other Time and Time After Time). [Photo above of Tim and Renee Farley courtesy of Salon Piano Series]
McKenna was a rock-solid pianist with impeccable time and swing who was familiar with all styles of jazz. He also was a master of the "three-hand swing effect," an approach with two hands that creates the impression that three hands are at work on the keyboard. As you'll hear on this recording, McKenna was one graceful player who could pitch any song right over the moon. [Photo of Dave McKenna with Tony Bennett]
Dave McKenna died in 2008.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Dave McKenna in Madison (Arbors) here.
The album also is available at Spotify.
JazzWax clip: Here's a medley of You're Driving Me Crazy and Moten Swing...
You're Driving Me Crazy & Moten Swing
Here's Dave McKenna with Tony Bennett at Boston's Copley Plaza in March 1982. Remember, it's just Dave and Tony, no drums or bass..
