SOMERSET, NJ – It was a chance trip to her late father’s den that led Jazz vocalist PJ Parker to a wonderful discovery.
Nestled among music books and other documents in his piano bench was a yellowed piece of manuscript paper containing the music of what would become the title track to PJ’s third CD, Dreams Are Meant For Two.
As PJ recounts it, “I found myself opening his piano bench, an act my Dad preferred to grant permission for, feeling his presence as I lifted out his precious books. Nestled in amongst them was a lone manuscript labeled ‘PIANO’ with Dad's signature, undated and composed entirely in pencil, entitled Dreams Are Meant For Two. There were no lyrics.”
With her mother’s blessing, PJ took the manuscript to her pianist, Vinnie Ruggieri, “to give me a true feel for what my Dad had written,” she said “As he played it through, tears coursing down my cheeks, I felt a deep sense that this lovely melody had been written to and for my Mom, and more than likely before their marriage. Vinnie and I both agreed that if I could write lyrics to it, this song should be a part of the upcoming recording.”
PJ did write the lyrics and, as she did so, she recalled, “the title haunted me with a vague familiarity.”
“Shortly before the studio session I searched for an article I'd saved of my Dad's, a newspaper story announcing the production of an Army review show co-written by Dad and actor Danny Dayton called ‘Pardon My Brassard,’ which, according to my mother, was indeed crafted before their marriage,” PJ said. “Listed among the featured songs was ‘Dreams Are Meant For Two,’ a most romantic title amid the predominantly ‘army guy’ tunes. I remembered thinking the first time I read the article that I'd loved to have seen or heard this song. And now here it was.”
“My husband and I extensively researched the possibility of existing lyrics, but none have surfaced,” PJ said.
“The lyrics I added seemed to write themselves, a simple love song written by a man who had finally found the love of his life,” she said. “Vinnie and I recorded this song, piano and voice, the last song of the session. When we looked at the clock, it was after midnight, in the wee small hour of June 17 -- the anniversary of the wedding of my parents, Thomas and Gloria Parker.” In their honor and celebration, the CD was entitled Dreams Are Meant For Two, she said.
In addition to the title track, PJ also wrote “Love’s A Logistical Thing” and “So What Do You Say?” for this release. Also on the CD are such Great American Songbook classics as “Moonglow,” “Long Ago (And Far Away)” and “Black Coffee,” as well as nine other selections.
Joining PJ on this CD are the stellar musicians Vinnie Ruggieri on piano, Earl Sauls on bass, Tim Horner on drums, Coleman Mellett on guitar and Joel Frahm on soprano and tenor saxophone.
Dreams Are Meant For Two is available at Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, iTunes.com and other digital download sites, and is distributed by Victory Multimedia.
Nestled among music books and other documents in his piano bench was a yellowed piece of manuscript paper containing the music of what would become the title track to PJ’s third CD, Dreams Are Meant For Two.
As PJ recounts it, “I found myself opening his piano bench, an act my Dad preferred to grant permission for, feeling his presence as I lifted out his precious books. Nestled in amongst them was a lone manuscript labeled ‘PIANO’ with Dad's signature, undated and composed entirely in pencil, entitled Dreams Are Meant For Two. There were no lyrics.”
With her mother’s blessing, PJ took the manuscript to her pianist, Vinnie Ruggieri, “to give me a true feel for what my Dad had written,” she said “As he played it through, tears coursing down my cheeks, I felt a deep sense that this lovely melody had been written to and for my Mom, and more than likely before their marriage. Vinnie and I both agreed that if I could write lyrics to it, this song should be a part of the upcoming recording.”
PJ did write the lyrics and, as she did so, she recalled, “the title haunted me with a vague familiarity.”
“Shortly before the studio session I searched for an article I'd saved of my Dad's, a newspaper story announcing the production of an Army review show co-written by Dad and actor Danny Dayton called ‘Pardon My Brassard,’ which, according to my mother, was indeed crafted before their marriage,” PJ said. “Listed among the featured songs was ‘Dreams Are Meant For Two,’ a most romantic title amid the predominantly ‘army guy’ tunes. I remembered thinking the first time I read the article that I'd loved to have seen or heard this song. And now here it was.”
“My husband and I extensively researched the possibility of existing lyrics, but none have surfaced,” PJ said.
“The lyrics I added seemed to write themselves, a simple love song written by a man who had finally found the love of his life,” she said. “Vinnie and I recorded this song, piano and voice, the last song of the session. When we looked at the clock, it was after midnight, in the wee small hour of June 17 -- the anniversary of the wedding of my parents, Thomas and Gloria Parker.” In their honor and celebration, the CD was entitled Dreams Are Meant For Two, she said.
In addition to the title track, PJ also wrote “Love’s A Logistical Thing” and “So What Do You Say?” for this release. Also on the CD are such Great American Songbook classics as “Moonglow,” “Long Ago (And Far Away)” and “Black Coffee,” as well as nine other selections.
Joining PJ on this CD are the stellar musicians Vinnie Ruggieri on piano, Earl Sauls on bass, Tim Horner on drums, Coleman Mellett on guitar and Joel Frahm on soprano and tenor saxophone.
Dreams Are Meant For Two is available at Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, iTunes.com and other digital download sites, and is distributed by Victory Multimedia.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
