"Mary Ann McSweeney reveals herself to be—in no particular order—a talented bassist and bandleader, a resourceful composer and an imaginative arranger. To begin with, the musicians on the album are outstanding. Opting for the slightly unusual frontline of trombone and saxophone, McSweeney enlists Mike Fahn and Donny McCaslin respectively. Fahn plays both valve and slide trombones, and McCaslin switches between tenor and soprano, giving McSweeney additional colors to work with. Henry Hey, a budding master, provides wonderful orchestral viewpoints at the piano. Tim Horner, at the drums, serves as McSweeney's partner in rhythm, and percussionist Joe Mowatt appears on three tracks,..
— David R. Adler, All Music Guide
"Chosen
to Perform at the
Monterey Jazz Festival at age 16, the young bassist
appeared with the All Star Big Band fronted by Thad
Jones
and Mel Lewis."
"
I had not seen Mary Ann for a few years and was pleasantly surprised
to hear her playing so great on her new C.D..... Ray Brown
"Wow!
It's wonderful! The whole band is taking care of business. " .....Rufus Reid.
"Authoritative
walking lines,
thoughtful solos that frequent the rich lower register, piquant
originals like "Nana's Tango," and freshly-viewed covers such
as "Amazing Grace" (recast in a minor key) all contribute to the New
York City-based McSweeney's self-assured sound on her quintet-driven
solo debut.
the
Monterey Jazz Festival at age 16, the young bassist
appeared with the All Star Big Band fronted by Thad
Jones
and Mel Lewis."
.... Ray Brown
