“Thank God for Paul Tillotson . . .” –Vernel Fournier Paul and Vernel worked together for six month’s at the Gramercy Watering Hole in New York City with bassist Lynn Seaton. They became great friends and were planning on making a recording together. Then tragically, Vernel suffered a stroke and was paralyzed from the waist down and unable to play. He worked everyday after the stroke to retrain his legs but it was an uphill battle that two years later he lost in the arms of his family when he was called to the next playing field. He died happy and with his family. Vernel left these kind words behind for Paul Tillotson and the lessons Paul learned from Vernel about playing standards live on in him. He recalls the great music they made together fondly. Without Vernel, Paul made the recording with Matt Wilson on drums. They had a ball making the recordings this compilation was put together with. Compiled from four previous recordings that were released on cassette from 1994 to 1997 this CD was Paul’s first CD release. It was put together for his trio’s “jazz festival” debut in Pocatello, Idaho for the Idaho State University Jazz Festival in 1997. This CD has been sold out since 1998 and now it is finally being released online as a digital downloadable CD. Now, anyone can download the original hit songs that have previously only been heard live for the last ten years. These Tillotson hits include: Tebadadeda, Centipede, Big Valley, Simple Pleasures, Tulips, Tidbits and Sage. Download the CD or just the songs that you love and enjoy. This music is beautiful and loves to be heard over and over and over. Thank you Paul Tillotson! -Pamela Osbourne