''...And a Little Pleasure'' is an album by saxophonist J. R. Monterose and pianist

Tommy Flanagan Thomas Lee Flanagan (March 16, 1930 – November 16, 2001) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He grew up in Detroit, initially influenced by such pianists as Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and Nat King Cole, and then by bebop musicians. ...

. It was recorded and originally released in 1981, and was reissued on CD as ''A Little Pleasure'' in 1989.

Recording and music

The album was recorded on April 6 and 7, 1981, in New York City.Fitzgerald, Michael (September 24, 2011
"J. R. Monterose Discography"
jazzdiscography.com. It was Monterose's recording debut playing the soprano saxophone. The miking was close, so his breathing is clearly audible. There are two original compositions on the album: "Pain and Suffering...And a Little Pleasure", in 3/4 time, and "Vinnie's Pad". The latter, as well as "

Con Alma "Con Alma" is a jazz standard written by Dizzy Gillespie, appearing on his 1954 album '' Afro''. The tune incorporates aspects of bebop jazz and Latin rhythm, and is known for its frequent changes in key centers (occurring every two bars), while s ...

", are up-tempo performances.Joyce, Mike (February 16, 1990) "Flanagan, Monterose 'Pleasure' Principals". ''The Washington Post''. p. 19. "Theme for Ernie", "

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" is a British romantic popular song written in 1939 and published in 1940, with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin. Setting Berkeley Square is a large leafy square in Mayfair, a part o ...

", and others are ballads.

Releases

Uptown Records Uptown Records is an American record label, based in New York City, founded in 1986 by onetime rapper Andre Harrell. From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, it was a leader in R&B and hip hop. During the 1990s, aided by its A&R worker Sean ...

released the album in 1981. In 1989,

Reservoir Records Reservoir Records is jazz record label founded in 1987 by Mark and Kayla Feldman, with special attention given to a piano series. Its catalogue includes music by Kenny Barron, Nick Brignola, Steve Kuhn, Hod O'Brien, Claudio Roditi Pepper Adams, ...

reissued it on CD, with the title ''A Little Pleasure''.

Track listing

#"Never Let Me Go" (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) – 7:09 #"Pain and Suffering...And a Little Pleasure" (J.R. Monterose) – 5:42 #"

" (Dizzy Gillespie) – 5:29 #"Central Park West" (John Coltrane) – 5:01 #"Theme for Ernie" (Fred Lacey) – 9:05 #"Vinnie's Pad" (Monterose) – 3:09 #"

" (Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin) – 7:29 #"Twelve Tone Tune" (Bill Evans) – 2:59

Personnel

*J. R. Monterose – tenor and soprano saxophone *Tommy Flanagan – piano

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:And a Little Pleasure 1981 albums Tommy Flanagan albums Uptown Records (jazz) albums Reservoir Records albums