Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Greg Reitan: Some Other Time

249

Greg Reitan: Some Other Time

By

Sign in to view read count
Greg Reitan: Some Other Time
The notes he strikes—ebony and ivory—stay interminably in the memory, hanging life-like and sensuously, fully laden on the canopy that crowns the mind's mind. Ideas abound and spring forth—even down the choruses of well-worn standards—and they sparkle end-to-end on Cole Porter's "All of You," Guaraldi's "Star Song," and on Bernstein's "Some Other Time," the title song, which is also an ironic harking back to a future-past and the seeming infinity of the life of the song's music itself. This, and the fact that the idioms of the melodies and their exquisite hidden phrases are caressed and coaxed out of each song by Greg Reitan on his debut outing all make Some Other Time a spectacular start to a career much anticipated.

Reitan channels the legendary grace and lyricism of Bill Evans and the endless harmonic flow of Keith Jarrett in a puckish voice redolent with almost Byzantine decor arranged in flowing sonic necklaces. It would appear that all sound is beautiful, whether it be 'sung' ponderously, as in the endearing sketch of "The Wayfarer," the crystalline sonority of "Northern Windows," or in the dazzling mystery of "Star Song." And despite the deliberate and rarified virtuosity that abounds throughout the record, Reitan remains refreshingly down-to-earth, not only in a humorous way, but also in his ability to coax and stir the music's notes into a dance appropriate to mood and swing.

Coltrane's "Giant Steps," for instance is slowed down considerably at the start, and features a spectacular improvised opening in waltz-time before a perfunctory unison trio statement before launching into a blistering melodic attack. Then the song dances its way into a waltz, after superb polyrhythmic bass and the soft splashes of cymbals igniting rhythmic figures around the whispering interlude on tom and snare. Even on the otherwise still life of "Time Remembered," there is a shuffle of dancing feet as well. And of course Pat Metheny's "Unquity Road," though not a nod to Metheny, Pastorius and Moses, does pay tribute by sparkling just a brightly as the original.

A pianist of Reitan's mature genius is rare and he rises to the challenge of delivering a voice in a trio setting set by predecessors of the mythic quality of Paul Bley, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. It helps, of course, to have a small and powerful cohort featuring Jack Daro, whose fingers seem to be on fire every time he strokes the strings of the bass and also Dean Koba, who—it appears—ravishes the hides of the drums just as much as he caresses them and other brass fare around his traps. This is a record that gives new meaning to the words "lyrical beauty."

Track Listing

All of You; Star Song; The Wayfarer; Dear Prudence; Time Remembered; Giant Steps; Northern Windows; Unquity Road; Bordeaux; Joy's Song; Autumn; Some Other Time.

Personnel

Greg Reitan: piano; Jack Daro: bass; Dean Koba: drums.

Album information

Title: Some Other Time | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Sunnyside 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

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

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.