Dave McKenna – Cookin’ at Michael’s Pub (Jazz, Vinyl LP) Halcyon HAL‑108

Dave McKenna – Cookin’ at Michael’s Pub (Jazz, Vinyl LP) Halcyon HAL‑108

Label: Halcyon Records Format: Vinyl LP, Stereo Country: USA Genre: Jazz / Piano Jazz / Live Recording Year: 1973

Stock Photos Only

Tracklist

Side One: Cookin’ at Michael’s Pub • Dream Dancing • Dansero • Change Partners • Dinah

Side Two: I Won’t Dance • Cheek to Cheek • I Could Have Danced All Night • Fine & Dandy • The Last Dance

Description

Cookin’ at Michael’s Pub was recorded in 1973 and issued by Halcyon Records, capturing pianist Dave McKenna in a live club setting at Michael’s Pub in New York City. The album reflects McKenna’s signature solo‑piano style: strong left‑hand bass patterns, rhythmic drive, and a melodic right hand shaped by swing, stride, and classic American songbook influences. The recording was engineered at Mercury Sound Studio and later remixed at Trident Studios, emphasizing clarity and the natural ambience of the performance.

The repertoire consists of standards by Berlin, Porter, Lerner & Loewe, and other composers central to McKenna’s working repertoire. His interpretations highlight his ability to move seamlessly between stride‑influenced passages, walking bass lines, and lyrical ballad phrasing. The album’s sequencing mirrors the flow of a live set, with transitions that reflect McKenna’s improvisational approach and deep familiarity with the material.

Halcyon Records, founded by jazz producer Charles Bourgois, specialized in documenting club‑level performances by established jazz artists. This release stands as one of the label’s most notable titles and an early example of McKenna’s recorded work before his long association with Concord Jazz.

Complete Condition

Jacket ✔️9 in great shape

Vinyl ✔️10 both sides

Labels ✔️10

Listing # ✔️R81