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Jen Allen: Pieces Of Myself
ByThe title track opens the collection with one of the more forceful grooves, though Allen's arrangement is more thoughtful and slightly edgier than standard fare. She allows trumpeter Josh Evans to share the lead for a good portion of the piece and he handles it beautifully. A student of Jackie McLean, Evans has performed with the likes of pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Rashied Ali. In a similarly funky vein, "The Repercussions" has both Allens taking some tasteful solos. "Once Again" slows down the tempo but maintains a popping rhythm before "Pining" returns to a more complex and driving rhythm.
The most dramatic change of pace comes with "Good Friday," which opens with Frédéric Chopin's "Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4)," seamlessly manipulated by the pianist into an excellent, improvised creation of her own. Drummer Lee Fish guides the shift with a light touch before Baron takes an excellent extended solo. It's from this point on that Pieces of Myself really takes off as an inventive post-modern pleasure, as the group hits its stride and plays with abandon on "Marble Hill" and "In Between The Lines," which features scorching solos from Evans and both Allens that are among the high points of the album.
Pieces of Myself closes with the only cover, Ray Nobel's "The Very Thought of You." Allen applies a very distinct and innovative post-bop treatment that makes a somewhat overdone tune feel categorically exhilarating. Pieces of Myself improves with every listen. The inventiveness of the compositions builds throughout, and when Allen finds her center she works it resolutely, even while keeping the program diverse.
Track Listing
Pieces of Myself; The Repercussions; Once Again; Pining; Good Friday; In Between the Lines; Marble Hill; The Very Thought of You.
Personnel
Jen Allen
pianoJen Allen: piano; Dave Baron: bass; Lee Fish: drums; Kris Allen: alto saxophone; Josh Evans: trumpet; Andrew Renfroe: guitar.
Album information
Title: Pieces Of Myself | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Self Produced