"Drew Paralic is that most unusual of things, a jazz pianist and composer who has released an album of originals played by others. Having taken up the instrument too late, he says, to approach the mastery of deeply appreciated influences like Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk, Paralic instead decided to focus on writing and arranging music. He authored or collaborated on each of the 12 tracks that make up Paralic’s new release Roll With It, Baby, and then assembled a pleasingly varied group of crack musicians for his Brooklyn-based sessions. The results, presented in a trio or quartet format for all but two piano-only pieces, are a straightforward swinging reminder of how small-group jazz can work as both a danceable distraction and absorbing art." -- Nick DeRiso, AllAboutJazz.com & ReviewYou.com ROLL WITH IT, BABY, my third full-length CD on CDBaby, (the others being TOO LITLE, TOO LATE and BLUE PASSION both linked on this page) contains twelve more original jazz compositions. Ten of these pieces are instrumental, one is a vocal quartet song (my first single!)--How Bill's Heart Sings --with Laura Kenyon, and one is a solo classical piano composition, owing as much to Satie as to Gershwin! A true labor of love with excellent NYC jazz players! A BRIEF BACKGROUND: Brooklyn native Drew Paralic began studying piano over 25 years ago, but soon realized he came to the game much too late to play in the league of his jazz heroes Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk. His teacher at New York's Turtle Bay Music School knew this and, given Paralic's grasp of harmonies, steered him towards standards and the blues. Playing and analyzing tunes from the Real Book became Paralic's obsession; composition and arranging in this style became his greatest passion. "The album features myriad styles from the composer as he brings together Swing, Modal, and Modern Jazz, and mixes it with the blues in various combinations throughout the record’s 12 pieces. Starting out with a Swing meets New Orleans style shuffle on the song “Steps,” Paralic showcases his love for various eras of jazz, and his penchant for mixing them together in his arrangements. " -- Matt Warnock, ReviewYou.com