The More You Know Ron Paley

• 1 Theme 04:24
• 2 U of M 04:06
• 3 A Beautiful Soul 02:40
• 4 P and Q 03:43
• 5 The Nutcracker, Op. 71, TH 14: Valse des fleurs (Arr. R. Paley for Piano) 07:11
• 6 Listen to the Sound 04:59
• 7 Alone Together / Pretty Woman 07:18
• 8 Ballad Trilogy 04:24
• 9 The More You Know 07:02
• 10 Prélude in C Minor, Op. 28 No. 20 (Arr. R. Paley for Piano) 04:16
• Total Runtime 50:03

Info for The More You Know

Exuberant and exciting is the Big Round Records debut of big band pianist and composer Ron Paley. This is not “just another pops album.” Paley’s work is cool, clever, and ridiculously fun. Seven of the ten tracks on The More You Know are completely composed, arranged, and performed by Ron Paley. “Theme” is energetic, exploring elements of upbeat jazz and classic boogie woogie. Fast-paced, too, is “U of M” where the artist/composer delves into the genres of gospel and rock as well—surprising the listener at the end with his impressive talent for percussing vocally. “A Beautiful Soul,” and “P&Q” are exquisite jazz ballads that are par with the perfection of those Weill, Porter, or Gershwin. This is demonstrated, too, in Paley’s Ballad Trilogy. “Listen to the Sound,” explores the rhythmic character inherent in Latin dance genres. The title track, “The More You Know,” is fresh and improvisatory. Paley’s mash-up arrangement of Dietz and Schwartz’s “Alone Together” an Orbison’s “Pretty Woman,” is the most experimental track on the album and demonstrates Paley’s gift for transforming the expected into something altogether new. Paley’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers,” is a lounge treat, unlike any other interpretation of the favorited Nutcracker tune. Paley brings the same sort of originality to his fabulous arrangement of Chopin’s Prelude in C-Minor, which concludes this treasure of a recording.

Ron Paley, piano

Ron Paley
Pianist, electric bassist, composer, and arranger, Ron Paley has composed works for solo piano, big band, and symphony orchestra. He formed the Ron Paley Big Band in 1976 after playing electric bass with the big bands of Buddy Rich, and Woody Herman, with whom he recorded two album’s. His tour with Woody Herman’s band included a month with Frank Sinatra resulting in the CD/DVD The Main Event. Paley’s big band performed a number of concerts with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra that featured several original works for big band and symphony orchestra. His big band also toured with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, playing his arrangements of songs by Rogers and Hart for the ballet “A Cinderella Story”. He wrote and recorded the music for a big band musical called “Bring ‘Em Back!” in which big bands come back playing a new kind of music. Several of the songs from the musical “Bring ‘Em Back!” are included on The More You Know.

Booklet for The More You Know