Do You Know What It Means?
Honeysuckle Rose
I've Got Rhythm
Nature Boy (Duo)
Nature Boy (Trio)
Que Reste-t-il
Try to Remember
Tuxedo Junction
Beatitude In Blue
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Four years ago, I did an engagement in Toronto for one of the charities to whom I like to contribute my time and talent since they provide effective support services in their respective international communities to do good work for the children of the world. This led to a subsequent invitation to do a similar engagement in Montreal the following year and I jumped at the chance. I had had wonderful memories of previous engagements in that beautiful city with Dionne Warwick at the Chateau Champlaine Hotel and later, Riverdance The Musical at Place Des Arts. The people I met in the streets, the world-class Artists and the over-all European ambience appealed to my spirit and I could not wait to go back and perform on a more personal level.

I accepted the engagement then applied myself to the task of finding suitable accompaniment in Montreal while living elsewhere, and being quite unfamiliar with Montreal Jazz Artists.. The people with the Charity knew nothing about mounting a show. That is when Jeffrey May entered my life. We must have spoken about a dizzying number of subjects varying from Music to the present spiritual state of mans' evolvement and all manner of subjects in between during that initial telephone call. I was not only professionally satisfied and secure with Jeffreys' expertise, but made personally happy with his energy and attitude. He immediately and willingly threw himself into making the engagement we were about to do together a truly joyous and satisfying evening of fun and musical tapestry weaving. Not only did he arrange the musical end of things, but also provided lights and sound as well. I came to Montreal that day three years ago only to rehearse for and play the engagement. During the process, I found someone who's musical tastes and expertise mutually matched and stimulated mine. We spoke about recording together and during the course of our relationship collected songs we were interested in. Jeffrey called me to perform at a private engagement in Montreal for friends of his. During that engagement, Eric Lagace and Joel Miller entered into the picture providing their own unique instrumental blend and voices to the musical tapestry. I have attended a number of engagements where Joel and Eric were involved in their own separate musical projects and endeavors and have become an admirer and fan to each of them.
Jeffrey somehow managed to get us all together at Surf Recording Studio in Montreal with Alexander doing the engineering of the project. Magic ensued, and after a time of trial and error, "Easy" was born. Here are some tid-bits of information about our Friends on Easy as written by Jeffrey:

Joel Miller: (visit: www.joelmillermusic.com for further details)

Joel Miller is quite simply one of the most creative musicians I have ever met. In conversation with a fellow Montreal jazz musician just yesterday, the word "genius" came up as we talked about Joel. We had no difficulty in applying this word to this person - a mutual love and respect for a friend who has brought such incredibly unique playing to our local music scene.
Joel's compositions are in a league all their own. I have featured Joel on three of the new tracks mentioned above, these being "Nature Boy", "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Tuxedo Junction". Give a listen, and perhaps you will hear something of the delightful energy that I speak of!

Eric Lagacé:

Eric Lagacé has been a prominent member of the Montreal music scene for many years. He is involved equally in the world of classical music as he is in the local jazz community. Eric is currently a member of the Oliver Jones Trio, and has played with international artists such as trumpet player Winton Marsalis, Trombone player Slide Hampton, singer Dee-Dee Bridgewater, Saxophone player and singer Eddie "Clean head" Vinson, and on several occasions with famous pianist-composer Michel Legrand. He has also been part of many radio Jazz shows for Radio Canada. Eric also teaches double bass at Concordia University in Montreal since 1988, and at McGill University in Montreal since 1991. (no web-site as of yet, but put "Eric Lagacé" into Google, and you will find out all you ever wanted to know about this fine
bassist!)

"Beatitude in Blue" was written by my Friend, Dave Ostrovsky, who wrote the title song of my Internationally Acclaimed CD "Give Me That Jazz." Jeffrey and I did the initial Guitar and Vocal track for this wonderfully positive piece of music at Surf Studio in Montreal, but there was no time nor money to finish that part of the project there at that time. I have had many incarnations during my life/career and have met many fine artists along the way. The musicians who play on Beatitude in Blue are among them and are friends as well. David asked Pianist Brian Wray, Bassist Will Jarvis, Drummer David Johannessen and Guitarist Brian Legere to play on and mix the Session for the piece, and the results speak for themselves. Beatitude in Blue speaks to the positive inclinations and joyous nature inside everyone which is exactly what DANSO/MAY hopes to accomplish in this as well as upcoming projects.

It is "Easy" to work with individuals who mutually admire and respect one another. I have said that "Jeffrey May is one of the finest artists with whom I have ever woven a sound tapestry." It is true, and I hope we weave many more for the enjoyment of others as well as our own.

Take it "Easy"

Michael Danso

Our Thanks go out to all the above-mentioned musicians for participating in this New Project, " Easy " and of course, last but not least, a great big THANK YOU to Alexander @ Surf Studios (www.surf-studios.com) who did such a fabulous job recording and mixing these tracks.