Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Frederick Moyer: When Summer Comes
Frederick Moyer: When Summer Comes
ByMoyer, well-known throughout the concert performance world, is indeed a keyboard virtuoso. His classical repertoire specialties are the lush, expressive works of Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Schumann, and other Masters. However, assuming the "same" bench and black-and-whites of the Keith Jarretts, Bill Evans and Oscar Petersons (each of whom have or had awesome technical chops), Moyer here is apparently enjoying his forays into quiet, late-night jazz.
While not a pure improvisation exposition, When Summer Comes is indeed a fine portrait of an inspired, involved pianist with a magnificent emotional feel for the jazz topic. A melodic purist, Moyer covers workhorses such as Erroll Garner's "Misty," a double serving of Peterson's "When Summer Comes," and Evans's "Very Early" without fawning to either the artists or the weight of the selections. Moyer's prior work with his Jazz Arts Trio (performing note-for-note transcriptions of solos by some of the aforementioned), has further acquainted Moyer with the vocabulary, stylistic shadingsand swingof jazz.
Understand that Moyer is prudent enough to focus on melodic and harmonic beauty, as opposed to extended freer improv. There's little "stretching out" and no "jive jazz," but, a Grand Canyon panorama of beautiful touch, expression, and rhythmic nuance. Well-known melodies take on mildly different, intriguing colorings where nothing is square-edged, forced or faked. Dynamically,
Some years ago, the famed talk-show host, Johnny Carson sheepishly asked Frank Sinatra who Ol' Blue Eyes listened to in
Track Listing
When Summer Comes (1995); My One And Only Love; Georgia On My Mind; When Summer Comes (1981); The Shadow Of Your Smile; Very Early; Only Trust Your Heart; Misty; All Of Me; It Might As Well Be Spring; Gospel.
Personnel
Frederick Moyer
pianoFrederick Moyer: piano.
Album information
Title: When Summer Comes | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: JRI Recordings