Denny Zeitlin: Panoply

Denny Zeitlin's Panoply is a diverse array collection of unreleased performances comprising solo piano recordings at the Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, California, trio sessions with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson captured at Mezzrow Jazz Club in New York City, and duo pieces with drummer/percussionist George Marsh collected over a decade of home recordings at Zeitlin's Double Helix Studio.

The album opens with a trio performance of George Gershwin's "I Was Doing All Right." Supported by the rhythm section's easy swing, Zeitlin demonstrates his nuanced touch and sophisticated improvisational skills. Three of the following four tracks—"Excursion," "Ambush," and "Music Box"—are duo performances with Marsh, each of which demonstrates Zeitlin's prowess in merging acoustic and electronic techniques. The tracks are a testament to his innovative spirit and ability to push the boundaries of jazz.

Bookending these prior pieces are two solo efforts: Bill Lee's number ""Only One" and Ray Noble's "Cherokee." Whether it is a romantic ballad interpretation of the former or the frisky progressive harmonic take on the latter, Zeitlin's piano has a lyrical beauty in where each note is carefully chosen and perfectly placed to maintain a cohesive narrative.

One of the most striking aspects of this release is the interplay between Zeitlin and his musical partners. The three remaining trio takes—Miles Davis' "Weirdo," Stordahl and Weston's "I Should Care" and Billy Strayhorn's "Johnny Come Lately"—are good examples. The Davis number bursts with enthusiasm as the trio shifts through various colours and shapes. The thoughtful " I Should Care" has a glossy radiance and the Strayhorn closer is filled with bubbling repartee.

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