Charlie McCarthy, sax; 
Larry Dunlap, piano; 
Ruth Davies, bass; 
Jim Zimmerman, drums.

One of the great pleasures of jazz is to spend a few hours in the company of the pianist Larry Dunlap.

Larry played early on in Portland with jazz greats Leroy Vinnegar and Ralph Towner, and has been based in San Francisco since the 1970s.

L-R: Bassist Seward McCain, drummer Jim Zimmerman, pianist Larry Dunlap and reed player Sir John Dankworth, on tour with Dame Cleo Laine

In the late 70s, he met and later married singer Bobbe Norris with whom he’s had a life-long performing career, and around 1980 he began a musical relationship with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth that endured for two decades and included recording at Carnegie Hall.

He’s also worked with Ernestine Anderson, Larry Coryell, Art Farmer, James Moody, Gerry Mulligan, Rebecca Parris, Mark Murphy & Amandio Cabral.

The four musicians on today’s date have had a long and fruitful association. Jim Zimmerman and Larry have been playing music together since the 1970s, most notably the three decades they spent together in The John Dankworth Group accompanying Dame Cleo Laine. In the ‘80s and ‘90s they were both very active members of Larry’s sorely missed octet, Upland Outpost, playing Keystone Korner, Kimballs and many other Bay Area venues.

The very versatile Charlie McCarthy has been on the bandstand with Larry countless times since the 1980s, including jazz and pop shows and dances and a plethora of jazz concerts. Charlie, Jim and Larry were all members of the quintet on Larry’s most recent recording of Amandio Cabral’s music, Fly With My Love.

Ruth Davies and Larry have enjoyed a musical relationship since the 1990s; maybe even the 1980s. Ruth is a gifted and solid bass player that Larry always enjoys working with, whether it be a concert situation or background music for a dinner or in a hotel lobby.

All four musicians are good friends with wicked senses of humor, bringing a joyous, swinging atmosphere whenever they perform together.