Home » Jazz Articles » Live Review » Hod O'Brien Trio

53

Hod O'Brien Trio

By

Sign in to view read count
Bud Powell-inspired pianist/composer Hod O'Brien came to maturity on the late-50's New York scene, gigging and recording in the company of Oscar Pettiford, Art Farmer, J.R. Monterose, and others. I first noticed him years ago on "Diffusion of Beauty," a piece of exotica he wrote for a three-trumpet record with Farmer, Donald Byrd, and Idrees Sulieman. Like many of his contemporaries he dropped out of sight during the 1960's. O'Brien reemerged in the mid-70's on the New York club circuit and began a string of solid recordings. His authoritative touch, feel, and swing are immediately apparent, but above all he is a soloist.
The trio came off as an integrated ensemble conscious of leaving breathing room for each other and for their audience. O'Brien chose not to play any of his own pieces, but he did include a couple by one of his favorite writers, Tadd Dameron: "The Squirrel" (a blues) and "Our Delight." Both tunes elicited energy and direction from the band. "Fine and Dandy" with the Charlie Parker head featured Kreibich both as soloist and in exchanges with O'Brien. Horace Silver's "Strollin'" went on for chorus after chorus of imaginative single-note piano lines. O'Brien resisted the common temptation of a cheap Erroll Garner imitation on Garner's "Passin' Thru," a tune from O'Brien's new CD Have Piano Will Swing (Fresh Sound). Instead he took his inspiration from Garner's energy and built his approach on breaks that heightened tension and forward momentum. "A Gal in Calico" featured pedaled block chords a la Red Garland. O'Brien's uncrowded, single-note improv again had his audience smiling and shaking their heads.
Westin Hotel Los Angeles, CA. Hod O'Brien, piano; Jeff Littleton, bass; Paul Kreibich, drums.

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Jazz article: The Cookers at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Jazz article: Julian Lage At Higher Ground

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.