Roberto Magris: Shuffling Ivories

Pianist Roberto Magris follows up his critically-acclaimed album Suite! (JMood Records, 2018) with a duet recording with Chicago-based bassist Eric Hochberg, whom he met while recoding Suite! . Returning to the windy city in November 2019 to promote the release of Suite! , Magris and Hochberg decided to make an album of their own while enduring one of the heaviest winter storms in the history of the city.

Over his thirty-plus albums, Magris has often drawn inspiration from his many musical influences. Such is the case here, as he pays tribute to giants such as Eubie Blake, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell and Andrew Hill, among others.

A talented composer as well as a remarkable piano man, Magris is known to include many originals on his recordings—as was the case on Suite! , a double-CD album, where half of the sixteen-piece repertoire was comprised of originals. Not so here, as he only contributes three originals, "Clef Club Jump," his oft-recorded "Italy" and the title track.

Pianist Andrew Hill's warm and delicate ballad "Laverne" is presented here on two takes with beautiful solo moments from both players. Eubie Blake is remembered on his familiar "Memories of You," and "The Chevy Chase," while the forceful "I've Found a New Baby" from Clarence Williams, Billy Gault's "The Time Of This World Is At Hand," and trumpeter Cal Massey's "Quiet Dawn" help fill out the session.

Performing with a cohesion as if reflecting many years of collaboration, Magris and Hochberg create wonderful moments on the soft and delightful Shuffling Ivories, sharing beautiful musical memories and an affirmation that when it comes to playing jazz, two can be enough.