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Kevin Hays Trio: You've Got a Friend

AAJ Italy Staff By AAJ Italy Staff

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Quattro brani del repertorio pop ed altrettanti standard del jazz per un disco informe, che strizza l'occhio sia al grande pubblico che a chi ama il jazz, finendo con lo scontentare entrambi. Un percorso illuminante per giudicare la cifra stilistica irrisolta del pianista statunitense, bravo ma incapace di dare una svolta significativa alla sua carriera di onesto esecutore del mainstream contemporaneo.

Prevalgono le risapute linee neobop, debitamente smussate ed addolcite da melodie morbide e soffuse per rassicurare l'ascoltatore, insieme a timbriche pulite e percorsi di semplicità apollinea a volte melliflui e scontati.

Nulla di memorabile in questa proposta discografica, che scorre piacevolmente dalla prima all'ultima traccia senza però volare alto sull'esempio esecutivo degli italiani Doctor 3. Manca insomma l'inventiva che faccia distinguere il pianismo del leader e la sua proposta convenzionale da consimili proposte discografiche destinate al dimenticatoio.

Ed è un peccato non aver saputo sfruttare nella maniera debita una ritmica di prim'ordine, capace di fare ben altro e generare ben altra tensione ritmica con leader diversi. Alla proposta non certo inconfondibile si aggiunge poi la mancanza di uno sforzo compositivo da parte di Hays.


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Track Listing

You've Got a Friend; Bridge Over Troubled Water; Fool On the Hill; Think of One; Sweet and Lovely; Nothing Like You; Cheryl.

Personnel

Kevin Hays: piano; Doug Weiss: bass; Bill Stewart: drums.

Album information

Title: You've Got a Friend | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Jazz Eyes


About Kevin Hays

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