MUSICIANS:
    Nick Manson - Piano & Keyboards
    Dean Taba - Acoustic Bass
    Clipper Anderson - Acoustic Bass
    Kendall Kay - Drums
    Mark Ivester - Drums
    Andy Suzuki - Reeds & Woods
    Jay Thomas - Trumpet
    Jennifer Lind-Ivester - Vocals

*Recorded by Michael Lord at Michael Lord Productions/Seattle, WA
**Recorded by Gary Denton at Stagg Street Studios/Van Nuys, CA

TRACKS:

Connections *	5:40
Like Brothers **	5:35
No Biting *	6:03
Side Saddle Blues **	4:47
While Andy's Sleeping *	9:52
The Bump **	5:38
Twin Springs *	5:06
Urban Myths **	8:07

JAZZ IMPRESSIONS: Ray Charles
2006 - Manasus Music
Produced by: Nick Manson

iTunes
CD Baby

MUSICIANS:
    Nick Manson - Piano/Keyboards
    Dean Taba - Acoustic Bass
    Kendall Kay - Drums
    Kenny Lasaine - Guitar
    Brad Rabuchin - Guitar
    Rick Schmunk - Guitar
    Andy Suzuki - Reeds/Woodwinds
    Steve Huffsteter - Trumpet
    Roby Duke - Vocals
    Dave Marks - Tracking Engineer
    Mike Zick - Overdub Engineer

    Recorded by Dave Marks at
    Manoa East Manoa
    Pasadena, CA

TRACKS:

Dawn Ray	3:51
Hit The Road Jack	4:41
You Don't Know Me	5:48
It's Alright	4:56
Oh, What A Beautiful Morning	7:23
Don't You Know	6:37
Georgia On My Mind	5:02
Swanee River Rock (Talkin' Bout That River)	6:20
I Can't Stop Loving You	4:18
What'd I Say	8:23

Review by Scott Yanow - L.A. Jazz Scene, March 2007

Ray Charles sang and played practically every style of music in his lifetime other than classical and opera. He will always be best remembered for infusing secular music with the passion of gospel, virtually defining soul music, but he also performed jazz, country, pop, blues and other unclassifiable styles in his own way.

A fine pianist and keyboardist originally from Seattle, Nick Manson pays tribute to Brother Ray on this recent CD. Most of the selections are instrumentals that team Manson with a fine rhythm section that includes bassist Dean Taba and drummer Kendall Kay and one of three guitarists. Horn parts and occasional solos are contributed by saxophonist Andy Suzuki and trumpeter Steve Huffsteter.

Most of Ray Charles' repertoire easily fit into jazz even if his recordings crossed other idioms, and Manson's versions are creative while generally sticking to straightahead swinging and occasional funky rhythms. All in all, this is an excellent tribute and easily recommended, as is another CD, Nick Manson Trio (one that mixes together originals with a few standards) that is also on Manasus Music.

NICK MANSON TRIO: GUEST ARTIST JOHN PATITUCCI 1994 - Manasus Music Produced by: John Patitucci iTunes CD Baby MUSICIANS:     Nick Manson - Piano     Clipper Anderson -     Acoustic Bass     Mark Ivester - Drums     John Patitucci - 6 String Bass     (tracks 2 and 9)     Recorded at Michael Lord Productions/Seattle, WA TRACKS:     You Say You Care 4:38     Fair Oaks Blvd. 5:30     Cynthia 5:48     'Till There Was You 10:58     Evanescent 6:53     Rogues & Thebes & Fiends & Thieves 4:11     Brightest Star 7:33     Anmitsu & You 5:31     One Finger Snap 4:17     For John 8:23 Review by Andrew Freund - Earshot Jazz, April 1995 A splendid rhythm section, the trio consists of Nick Manson, brilliant bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer Mark Ivester, and happily they can be found on a new CD simply titled Nick Manson Trio, produced by the talented session bassist and Chick Corea band member John Patitucci. Anderson, Ivester and especially Patitucci (who performs, amazingly, on two tunes on a six-string bass that sounds like an unusual guitar) are known for their fusion work, but rest assured that this is classic piano trio jazz, and a complete winner to boot. Simplicity, understatement, balance and hard swing are the order of the day here, and this reviewer is grateful. This is a recording dominated by originals from its leader which sing naturally and memorably. Manson enjoys little parabolic phrases which he repeats and then turns into lengthy runs. He has a very light, nimble touch and he puts each note exactly where he wants it. Anderson and Ivester match him with concision and a total absence of bombast. This trio is a Trio! Anderson places his high-end, round notes a fraction ahead or, more often, a bit behind the pianist, so the ear is always captivated. As usual he shows his distinct musical intelligence and a preference for surprising harmonic choices. He is a player for the connoisseur to savor. Ivester plays less and less noisily than any drummer in recent memory. He's like the veteran baseball player you seldom notice, but his team has more shutouts than any other and along the way you realize that an ultimate team player had a lot to do with his group's excellence. This particular Manson trio is excellent. I hope their agile, captivating first recording finds a captive audience.