Sir Roland Hanna Trio - Milano, Paris, New York -

: Steam rising from subway grates, neon lights blurring in the rain, and the relentless, driving energy of the city.

Listening to this album is like eavesdropping on a conversation between two masters. It is the sound of an artist knowing his time is short, packing all the travel, respect, and beauty he has experienced into 57 minutes of pure, unforgettable music. Sir Roland Hanna Trio - Milano, Paris, New York

What makes this story profoundly deep is the real-world weight resting behind the notes. Roland Hanna was an actual knight (knighted by the President of Liberia for his humanitarian work), and he played with a "noble" touch. Recorded on April 1, 2002, this session became one of his very last before he passed away in November of that same year. : Steam rising from subway grates, neon lights

The story begins with quiet sophistication in Italy. Roland Hanna on piano, George Mraz on double bass, and Lewis Nash on drums gather to paint a portrait of John Lewis—the mastermind behind the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). : Mist hanging over stone plazas. What makes this story profoundly deep is the

: The trio abandons the polite European structures and gives in to raw, unadulterated American swing.