The Piano Witchcraft of Cy Coleman, Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by Billy May

As a young, aspiring pianist and composer, Cy Coleman launched his meteoric career by bewitching audiences in New York’s most sophisticated clubs. An amazingly versatile pianist, he usually fronted a trio, quickly weaving a spell over even the toughest audience. That magical spell, an intriguing blend of balladry and relentless up-tempo rhythm, always played with a master technician’s love of economy, is the very essence of “Piano Witchcraft”

His Growing stature as a pianist and interpreter of melody and harmony gave Cy the confidence to compose songs and tunes that rapidly became classics on whatever stage or screen or in whatever studio they were played. His sparkling talent as a composer is recognized in his scores for films, including “The Art of Love” and “Father Goose,” and for Broadway musicals such as “Wildcat” and “”On the 20^th Century” and “I Love MY Wife,” Cy’s success in show business was inevitably recognized by the recording world and producer Dave Cavanaugh signed Cy Coleman to recreate on record the musical sorcery he wrought onstage.

“Piano Witchcraft” is the sound of Cy Coleman playing ten of his favorite songs. It has the added bonus of orchestral arrangements conducted by the legendary Billy May, the only exception being Bob Bain’s stimulating big band arrangement for “Pussy Cat,” one of the eight Cy Coleman compositions on the album. The sessions took place in the concert hall atmosphere of Studio ‘A’ at Capitol in Hollywood and awed observers came away muttering “Magical” to themselves after witnessing this meeting of artists, producer and conductors and arrangers at the apex of their professions.

“Brassman’s Holiday, “Witchcraft” and the evergreen “Hey Look Me Over” are samples of Cy’s fluid and agile approach to swinging, up-tempo songs. With a firm, but sensitive hand on the melody line, he drives the rhythm along with the consummate ease of a truly great musician. His ballads such as “It Amazes Me” and “Leave It to Love” on Side Two are models of exquisite subtlety. Here Cy is at his best, coaxing the utmost in passion rom a melody with mesmeric use of phrasing and timing. The Album finishes with an upbeat tune in both tempo and character as Cy races joyously across the keyboards in “The Best Is Yet To Come.” The amazing Cy Coleman…

In his early years Cy Coleman was exposed to and had great success with classical and jazz music. But Cy decided to learn new types of music and was very gifted in his work with popular music. His first collaborator was Cy Coleman working with Joseph Allen McCarthy, and later Carolyn Leigh. Carolyn and Cy wrote many pop hits, including Playboy's Theme, The Best Is Yet to Come, and Witchcraft.

With his early classical and jazz success, Cy Coleman decided to build his a career in the growing world of popular music. With his first collaborator was Joseph Allen McCarthy he did remarkable work. However his most successful early partner was with Carolyn Leigh; the pair wrote many wonderful and timeless pop hits, including "Witchcraft" and "The Best Is Yet to Come."

Cy Coleman was born June 14, 1929 and died November 18, 2004 he was an American producer, writer, and director of wonderful musicals. Cy was also one of the greatest jazz pianist to every grace the world of music. His lyricist collaborators included both Carolyn Leigh and Dorothy Fields.

It was the year 1964, when Cy Coleman met Dorothy Fields at a magical party, he asked if she would like to collaborate some work with him, and she was very happy to accept. Dorothy Fields was older, and her experience helped enrich the younger Cy Coleman, and it show in the wonderful works of their first project, Sweet Charity, If My Friends Could See Me Now, I'm a Brass Band, and Big Spender. They were a great team, and did many other creative projects, but tragically their partnership was ended by Dorothy death in 1974.

Side One

Brassmen’s Holliday 2:08

Witchcraft 2:13

I’m Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life 1:52

It Amazes Me 2:57

Hey, Look Me Over 2:20

Side Two

The Riviera 2:13

Pussy Cat 2:27

Leave It To Love 2:13

You Fascinate Me So 2:21

The Best Is Yet To Come 2:39

Cy Coleman found working with the older and apparently wisher Dorothy Fields was much more rewarding and help Cy grow as an artist. Cy remained very creative in the later years of the 1970's. He collaborated on “I Love My Wife”, with the help of Michael Stewart, and later came “On The Twentieth Century” in 1978 with the help of Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

The composition skills of Cy Coleman run throughout the smooth Jazz of "Piano Witchcraft", one can feel the magical touch of Coleman’s wizardry, and whether you call it exotica, or space age, it is truly witchcraft. With the great help from the American composer, arranger and trumpeter Billy May the razzle-dazzle is completely spell bounding.