Legendary jazz singer, Jimmy Scott's trio The Jazz Expressions, continue to dazzle audiences all over the world with their spectacular performances and startling originality. For Yoyogi, their second CD for Bluejay, Musical Director Hill Greene has put together a hot new collection of tunes which include some impressive originals contributed by all the band members along with unique arrangements of two great jazz standards. There is much to discover here and many rewards for everyone from the casual listener to the Jazz aficionado who will listen many times over. This exciting band of New York's finest jazz musicians consists of bassist and musical director Hilliard "Hill" Greene, pianist Mike Kanan, and drummer Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax.

Hill Greene has performed with Jimmy Scott for thirteen years as bassist and seven years as musical director. He recorded on The Jazz Expressions self-titled Bluejay CD, three Jimmy Scott cds, and with Cecil Taylor, Gloria Lynn, Jacky Terrasson, the Ink Spots, Vanessa Rubin, Bobby Watson. "Bassist Hilliard Greene has led the Jazz Expressions for several years," writes Boston Globe jazz critic Bob Blumenthal, "and the group's contribution was a major delight. Greene plays with a beautiful tone and unerring time."

Mike Kanan studied piano for fourteen years with Lennie Tristano disciple Harvey Diamond as well as Sal Mosca. He has been referred to as "tasteful" (Downbeat Magazine) and "sublime" (Billboard Magazine). For the last several years, he has toured extensively with Jimmy Scott and The Jazz Expressions throughout Japan, Europe and the United States. In addition to his recording on The Jazz Expressions previous Bluejay CD, he released a trio cd, Convergence" on Fresh Sound Records features the music of Lennie Tristano. He recorded three CD's with Mr. Scott and numerous national radio and television appearances. Mike also recorded with jazz singer Annie Ross (Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross), and with modernists Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Jorge Rossy. He has also performed with Lee Konitz, Al Cohn, Tal Farlow, and Alan Dawson.

Dwayne (Cook) Broadnax, born in Philadelphia, began playing drums in junior high school, while taking drum and music lessons at Settlement Music School, and performing throughout the tri-state area, with the Elks Marching Band and various local funk and rock bands. He continued his education at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, graduating in three short years. With diploma in hand, he returned to Berklee as one of their youngest faculty members. After moving to New York City in 1983, he toured with legendary organist, Bill Dogget. He then joined Grammy award winning blues artist, Johnny Copeland with whom he performed and recorded. Cook has also been a major force on several tours with Jimmy Scott and The Jazz Expressions.

The opening song, Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax's Blues for Siboney is a classic blues written for Dwayne’s sister Siboney. The melody reminds him of her essence, the way she walks. Hill Greene’s The Mayor is dedicated to Ellen Finn, who inspired Hill to use something from the past and put it in a new context. The song’s opening phrase is reminiscent of a melody commonly heard prior to 1930. Greene’s B,B,B,and B is a curious title. The obvious meaning is that the note B is the pivotal tone and most important pitch for the structure of the music. Mike Kanan’s The Strand is dedicated to a busy London street where he got the initial idea for the melody. Mal Waldron’s Soul Eyes is given a very unique treatment here in a hard swinging arrangement by Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax. Moonlight In Vermont, is arranged here by Mike Kanan who plays a lovely reharmonized chord melody over a solid pedaltone vamp. Yoyogi is named after a lovely park Hill came upon while performing in Japan. It begins with a strong arco bass statement thenevolves into a lilting oriental strain. Mike Kanan’s subterfuge is aptly named because it’s deceptively simple melody is actually tricky to play. Kanan’s song The Ring is about the happy-go-lucky feeling of buying a ring for your true love. Mike’s Waltz At Dawn describes the beautiful and peaceful light and atmosphere that he observed one Brooklyn morning. The closing number Jazzy Mary reflects the persona of one of the biggest jazz fans in New York.

Nat Simpkins & Cecil Brooks III, Executive Producers