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Ted Piltzecker: Standing Alone

By Mark Corroto
December 1, 2001
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Like solo piano sessions, solo vibraphone recordings are extremely personal, solitary events. They tend to relate to their listeners on an individual basis. Vibes-man Ted Piltzecker a member of George Shearing’s quintet releases this solo session as a follow up to his 1996 excellent quintet date Unicycle Man with Bob Mintzer, James Williams and Harvie Swartz.

By choosing mostly jazz standards, Piltzecker begins halfway inside the listeners comfort zone. He takes you the rest of the way by his quiet elegance. Standing Alone reminds one of the late John Lewis’ final Evolution recordings. Piltzecker doesn’t thrill you with pyrotechnics; he relies on a well-placed note. Covering John Coltrane’s “Naima,” Rodgers and Hart’s “My Romance,” and Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood” appeals to Piltzecker’s modest approach to jazz’s passionate history. He fills the 43-minutes with expressive grace, maintaining interest throughout. He can sound like he’s ringing leaded crystal “In Your Own Sweet Way” or he can reproduce the feel of a piano. Piltzecker applies both a single and a four-mallet approach with a fluid delivery and an insider’s hipness. Highly recommended.

Track Listing

My Romance; My One And Only Love; In Your Own Sweet Way; In A Sentimental Mood; Trieste; God Bless The Child; Body And Soul; Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans; Blue In Green; Invitation; Like Someone In Love; Naima; La Malange.

Personnel

Ted Piltzecker

vibraphone

Ted Piltzecker

Album information

Title: Standing Alone | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Equilibrium

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Ted Piltzecker Concerts

Dec 19 Fri

Ted Piltzecker Quartet Featuring Brad Goode

The Muse Performance Space
Lafayette, CO

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