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Roberto Magris Trio: Kansas City Outbound
ByWith a mix of Great American Songbook tunes like "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Darn That Dream," and "Alone Together," the pianist has added some jazz classics like Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing" and Andrew Hill's "Reverend Du Bop," wrapped around four of Magris' own top level compositions, to create one of the more engaging piano trios sets of the year.
Magris' timely "Iraqi Blues" eschews political statement. The tribute to the people who have died in the war-torn country seems not angry, but full of sorrow and forward momentum, teetering on the edge of chaos, seeming to ask the question "is there hope?" between Cecil Taylor-like keyboard bursts.
On Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," Magris explores an Art Tatum mood via Oscar Peterson, perhaps, with light flourishes and sharp, zinging notes. "Reverend Du Bop" drifts inward in a way that, like much of Hill's songbook, shifts back and forth over the simplicity/complexity border, showcasing Magris' subtle keyboard touch.
"Bemsha Swing" opens with Taylor muscling the melody, soon joined by Magris' fingers dancing adroitly through its Monkian angles, while in a reverent take on Benny Carter's Lonely Woman," Magris sounds absolutely lovely.
In a year featuring numerous excellent piano trio outings, Kansas City Outbound sits on the top shelf, gleaming with the best of them.
Track Listing
01. Kansas City Outbound (Magris) - 3:24; 02. I Fall In Love Too Easily (Cahn-Styne) - 8:38; 03. Iraqi Blues (Magris) - 7:09; 04. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (Strayhorn) - 4:22; 05. KC Inbound (Magris) - 3:25; 06. Reverend Du Bop (Hill) - 7:38; 07. Rainbow Eyes (Magris) - 3:21; 08. Bemsha Swing (Monk) -5:21; 09. Lonely Woman (Carter) - 4:02; 10. Darn That Dream (Burke-Van Heusen) - 6:43; 11. Alone Together (Dietz-Schwartz) - 6:30; 12. Bye Bye Baby (Cahn-Styne) - 5:06.
Personnel
Roberto Magris
pianoRoberto Magris (pianoforte); Art Davis (contrabbasso); Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson e Zack Albetta (batteria).
Album information
Title: Kansas City Outbound | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: JMOOD* RECORDS