Louis Durra: Rocket Science (2012)

Bruce Lindsay

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2008

Bruce is the author of the blog Delicious Hot Disgusting Cold, and the photoseries "It's Not How It Sounds".

Recent articles (505 total)

Published: December 18, 2012

The constant revitalization of the piano trio is one of the most rewarding developments in recent jazz history and it continues apace with Louis Durra's Rocket Science. Durra isn't introducing a major paradigm shift, but with Ryan McGillicuddy Ryan McGillicuddy
on bass and longtime compatriot Jerry Kalaf Jerry Kalaf
on drums, he's bringing a few fresh new tunes to the party and delivering them with a light, engaging yet imaginative flair.

Rocket Science follows on from The Best Of All Possible Worlds (Self Produced, 2012) and consists, for the most part, of an intriguing mix of covers. Durra avoids the American Songbook classics, concentrating on more contemporary composers whose work is regularly adopted by jazz players—Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder
b.1950
keyboard 's "Living For The City," John Lennon John Lennon
1940 - 1980
composer/conductor and Paul McCartney Paul McCartney
b.1942
composer/conductor 's "Back In The USSR" and "In My Life"—and some who've yet to reach this status.

There's a pleasing variation in mood and pace. Jack White's "The Hardest Button To Button" gets a foot-stomping groove from Durra's left hand and Larry Steen Larry Steen
's bass; Michael Buble Michael Buble
b.1975
vocal and Alan Chang's "Home" is a melancholy ballad; Juan Villarreal's "El Mango" has a jaunty, up-tempo beat with a Vince Guaraldi Vince Guaraldi
1928 - 1976
piano cheeriness. Durra's "Nine Eleven," the album's sole original composition, is a lovely tune, performed beautifully by Durra with particularly sympathetic and respectful support from McGillicuddy and Kalaf.

Two of the album's most left-field selections leave the most lasting impressions. KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" loses a little of Tunstall's assertiveness but gains a shuffling, funky feel from Kalaf's drums. The trio performs "Un Canadien Errant," a traditional song from Quebec, as a gently, wistful waltz with an occasional shift in pulse and emphasis that surprises without spoiling the mood—it also gives McGillicuddy the chance to take the spotlight with his own lyrical solo.

Durra, McGillicuddy and Kalaf play three or four nights a week around Los Angeles and this consistent work clearly helps them to knit together as a unit. Durra has also played some critically acclaimed shows at the Edinburgh Festival, not the easiest of places to make an impression. All this experience and expertise, coupled with Durra's inspired song selection, gives Rocket Science a special spark.

Track Listing: The Hardest Button To Button; One Love; Black Horse And The Cherry Tree; Home; El Mango; Nine Eleven; According To You; Living For The City; Back In The USSR; Un Canadien Errant; In My Life; La Puerta Negra.

Personnel: Louis Durra: piano; Ryan McGillicuddy: bass; Jerry Kalaf: drums; Larry Steen: bass (1, 7).

Record Label: Self Produced