Johnny Costa recorded relatively few albums under his own name, but the longtime Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood musical director was a gifted and expressive pianist. For his final recording, made the year before his death in 1996, Costa focused on the music of Johnny Mercer, who, in addition to penning unforgettable lyrics, composed the romantic ballad Dream. The remaining 15 selections feature Mercer’s most celebrated collaborations, including a shimmering rendition of David Raksin’s Laura, a playful take on Harry Warren’s Jeepers Creepers, a jaunty Skylark with hints of Teddy Wilson, and a complex, Art Tatum–inspired reading of Harold Arlen’s That Old Black Magic. Though purely instrumental, the music evokes the lyricism that made Mercer so admired. This recording stands as a fitting final chapter to Costa’s career and a welcome opportunity for jazz fans to savor his remarkable artistry.

Track Listing

Dream
I'm Old Fashioned
Laura
I Remember You
Early Autumn
Jeepers Creepers
Skylark
Too Marvelous For Words
A Kiss From You
That Old Black Magic
I Thought About You
Blues In The Night
Autumn Leaves
Tangerine
Fools Rush In
Day In Day Out