By Dave Roberts
Bevan Manson Trio - Mystic Mainstream (A-Records)
When it comes to religion, I worship at the altar of Bill Evans. So I can pass on no higher praise than to say a pianist reminds me of Evans. Manson acknowledges Evans as one of his influences along with Evans acolytes Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea and considers his style a continuation of some of the ideas that Evans was exploring before his untimely death at 51 in 1980. So, you can see Manson is in good company.
And this CD is a gem, one of the best piano trio CDs Ive heard. Its got everything, including John Lockwood on bass and George Schuller on drums. In the course of a 49-minute set, they tackle the formidable Giant Steps at a bracing Trane speed, reinvent All Blues into a ballad of longing and despair, and play wonderful Manson originals such as the irreverent Seats Two and the hauntingly beautiful solo ballad The Farness of You. This CD, which was released in 1999, also includes three standards. Its playing that is dynamic, warm and sensitive. In short, its everything I hope for in a piano trio record.
NLS Trio
1999 must have been a good year for Bay Area piano trios, because this CD is also one of my favorites. It features Paul Nagel on piano, Jason Lewis on drums and John Shifflett on bass playing 10 originals: 4 by Nagel, and 3 each by the others. There are many things to praise in this CD, not the least of which is the quality of the writing and arranging.
But the thing that stands out most is the group interplay, the attention to sonic coloration. Lewis is endlessly inventive appropriately, the CD begins with his tap dance on the ride cymbal on a Nagel composition Whos on First? After the head, which explores a simple theme in a variety of tonal centers, suddenly the group opens up into an almost freeform interplay that is fascinating. I love all the tunes on this CD, but the standout is the lovely Nagel ballad As Is. Featuring fifth and sixth intervals and an evocative melody, it almost sounds like music from another time, and yet timeless, if thats possible.
I cannot recommend this CD any more highly. To listen to it is to be taken on a very interesting journey. It's available at Nagel's Web site,
paulnagel.com.
Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge - Hey, Its Me! (Left Coast Clave Records)
This is a Latin jazz CD for jazz lovers who dont think they like Latin jazz. Yes, theres always a Latin groove present, but the overall effect is very straight-ahead, beginning with Mark Levines piano playing. Although he experienced a Latin jazz epiphany on a trip to Cuba three years ago that has set him on his present course, Levine is not new to this music, having played with the likes of Mongo Santamaria and Cal Tjader decades ago.
With Peter Barshay on bass, Paul Van Wageningen on drums and Michael Spiro on percussion, this band first and foremost swings. Its a very tight rhythm section, allowing Levine to roam freely over the keyboard. Perhaps this group does not sound like a typical salsa band because there are no horns. Or perhaps its because you can take Levine out of jazz but you cant take jazz out of Levine. Regardless, every tune even those that have been around the block a few times like Green Dolphin Street and My One and Only Love, sounds reinvented.
One of the marks (no pun intended) of a great group is that youre never sure what theyre going to do next. Thats the experience I had listening to this CD.
Soul Sauce, Got Sauce? (Guacamole Records)
See the story in this months column.
Dave Roberts has been a professional writer for more than a decade in
newspapers, magazines and high-tech. He's a student of jazz piano, and
writing a book, Tips From the Jazz Piano Pros, consisting of interviews with
jazz pianists that focus on the art and craft of playing jazz piano.
If you are a professional jazz pianist or know of one who would be interested
in participating, e-mail him at DaveRobertsJazz@cs.com. Also, if you are a
Bay Area (or northern California) jazz musician, let him know what you're up
to: CDs, shows, Web sites, etc.
