Ward and I have performed together for many years. While I never underestimated his virtuosity at the piano, I had taken for granted his ability to compose arrangements on the spot; on these recordings he is ingenious and inexhaustible, as facile at referencing Bach as Basie. For my vocals, Ward’s accompaniment is as much a cradle as catalyst—a safety net and a slingshot. These are spontaneous and honest performances. We recorded each song several times, and each take had a different flavor. When we finished recording, we simply chose the versions that we thought were most effective. What would add to our pleasure in completing this project would be the knowledge that you enjoy listening as much as we did in recording. -Rosemary Benson