Mary Nelson - Moon River and Me (2019) [Hi-Res]

"Moon River And Me" are the four last words of the lyrics to film composer Henry Mancini’s possibly best known hit song Moon River, sung and immortalized on celluloid by a ravishing Audrey Hepburn in Blake Edwards’ celebrated 60s comedy Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Over a prolific career spanning 60 years, Henry ”Hank” Mancini made a name in Hollywood and worldwide by crafting iconic film and TV scores for productions such as The Pink Panther films, Peter Gunn, 10 and The Thorn Birds, music that gallantly fused strong harmonic and melodic content with jazz and Latin American rhythms. For her third full-length album, Swedish-American jazz vocalist and composer Mary Nelson has chosen Henry Mancini as her object of study, and aptly names it Moon River And Me. Together with multi-faceted Swedish pianist, composer and arranger Daniel Lantz, who has a soft spot for film music, not least evidenced by his previously released jazzy takes on Bond music, she has dug deep into Mancini’s musical gold mine, presenting not only imaginative renditions of his worldwide hits, but also exploring his obscure and peripheral background themes that still possess remarkable melodic content, for which Nelson has penned her own lyrics, transforming them into brand new stage-ready jazz songs. Masterfully recorded by engineers Otto Wellton and David Darlington, with a classy jazz piano trio arranged and helmed by pianist Daniel Lantz with sidemen Swedish bassist Pal Johnson and Finnish drummer Kari Paavola, Nelson treats Mancini’s unforgettable music with an expressive and sensitive personal touch, embraced by the light-swinging interplay of the acoustic jazz trio. The inclusion of acclaimed New York jazz-, vocal- and trumpet star Benny Benack III provides the icing on the cake for Miss Nelson’s delicious Mancini jazz cocktail!

Mary Nelson, vocals
Benny Benack III, trumpet and vocals (#3 & #8)
Daniel Lantz, piano
Pal Johnson, double bass
Kari Paavola, drums
Ola Bothzén, percussion (#1, #2 & #6)