Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Edward Simon: Poesia
Edward Simon: Poesia
By
Simon's writing continues to mine the nexus of head and heart, but he's also getting better at finding that often elusive juncture. Cerebral music is all well and fine, but if it doesn't resonate, it has little meaning. Simon's musicwhether it's a complex chart like the episodic and dramatically expansive "Intention" or the spare melancholy of "My Love For You," a solo piano piece that bookends Poesia with two different takeshas always been emotionally deep. Still, as time passes, his innate ability to create effortless contexts of no small challenge for his trio that reach deep into the heart and soul continues to be a compositional definer for this virtuosic but never excessive pianist.
Simon's interests reach far and wide, including no small amount of classical references, hints of his own Latin heritage and, of course, the jazz tradition. But while many have created arrangements for saxophone legend John Coltrane's iconic and change-heavy classic, "Giant Steps," few have given it this extensive a makeover. It's all therethe relentless chord changes, the unmistakable melodybut Simon has twisted it on such an angle that it becomes a quirky tune that shifts from staggered rhythm to occasional clear swing as both he and Patitucci weave cogent melodies through it and Blade acts as both responder and driver.
Simon's an economical player who never overstays his welcome, choosing instead to compose material with longer narratives and, while leaving plenty of room for the group to explore, avoids feeling anything approaching a "head-solo-head" aesthetic. Instead, there's an almost cinematic feel to tunes like "Winter," which has an unmistakable theme that's returned to following a particularly inventive and motivic-centric piano solo.
"One for J.P." is a bright piece that's a mélange of shifting meters and near-funk, even as Patitucci overdubs an upper register harmony line on electric bass, augmenting Simon atop his more pulse-centric acoustic bass. "Roby" is a dark-hued ballad driven by Blade's soft mallets and Simon's elegantly light touch, while the title track is an up-tempo composition that, in its own distinct way, feels a kinship with another Cam artist, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.
Simon's visibility continues to grow and, with the at once challenging and beautiful Poesia, he has once again delivered an album that deserves a spot as one of the best piano trio records of the year.
Track Listing
My Love For You (take 1); Winter; Giant Steps; One for J.P.; Roby; Poesia; Intention; Triumph; My Love For You (take 2).
Personnel
Edward Simon
pianoEdward Simon: piano; John Patitucci: bass, electric bass; Brian Blade: drums.
Album information
Title: Poesia | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: CAM Jazz