Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Piperville: Return to the 90th Floor...

117

Piperville: Return to the 90th Floor...

By

Sign in to view read count
Piperville: Return to the 90th Floor...
Piperville is a trio, but not just any trio. To begin with, a threesome with Jeff Hamilton on drums and Lynn Seaton on bass is already two-thirds of the way to Jazz heaven. Add pianist Brian Piper, one of the busiest musicians in the Dallas, Texas, area, and the group is no less than one king-size step closer.

It's a pleasure simply to listen to all the wonderful things Hamilton does as accompanist, every stroke and accent precise and tasteful, sort of like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel (or listening to Joe Morello in a trio setting). Best of all, Hamilton never shouts "hey, look at me!" or steps on anyone's toes. As for Seaton, he's a model of strength and consistency, seemingly incapable of striking a false note while making sure the rhythm never falters, regardless of tempo. Given that sort of bedrock, it's relatively easy for Piper to satisfy the melodic requirements, as he does with poise and resourcefulness.

The in-concert session, taped at the Maximedia sound stage in Farmers Branch, is consistently bright and entertaining, loose and swinging yet marked by the kind of subtle nuance and seamless interplay that one doesn't often hear these days. In other words, this is trio jazz the way it was meant to be played. The group opens with a time-tested standard (Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek ) and adds two others ("Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries, "There Is No Greater Love ) to originals by Piper ("Carlene ) and bassist John Adams ("Q's Blues ), plus jazz evergreens by Duke Ellington ("Cottontail ), Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Triste ), Luiz Bonfa ("Black Orpheus ), Fats Waller ("Honeysuckle Rose ) and Lennon/McCartney ("Norwegian Wood ).

Piper shows his keen awareness on every number, his Tatum/Peterson-inspired chops on "Greater Love and "Cottontail, while Seaton ad-libs Slam Stewart impressions on "Q's Blues and "Honeysuckle Rose, growling in tune as he bows frisky bass solos. Hamilton, who is content for the most part to sit back and lend solid support, emerges from the shadows for some spirited interchanges on "Rose. There's no point in enumerating highlights, as every tune is splendidly performed.

The album's title refers to Bruce Collier's record label, founded in 1959 and named after a well-known Dallas jazz club. Having lain dormant for many years, it has now been resuscitated by Collier and his wife, Jan. If this marvelous session is any indication of what is to come, long may it survive and prosper.

Track Listing

Cheek to Cheek; Q

Personnel

Brian Piper: piano; Lynn Seaton: bass; Jeff Hamilton: drums.

Album information

Title: Return to the 90th Floor... | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: 90th Floor Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.