Oscar Perez (pno); Thomson Kneeland (bs); Alvester Garnett (dms) + Bruce Williams (alto on 5 tracks).
(Review by Lance).
Another gem from across the pond. Perez's third album has the Sir Roland Hanna tutored pianist living up to his reputation as "a pianist of impeccable technique and fluency" with a program of 7 originals, alongside Monk's 'Round Midnight and Hoagy's The Nearness of You. JazzTimes and DownBeat have showered him with accolades and Bebop Spoken Here has no intention of spoiling the party!
He's a swinger, but a forward looking one who has also absorbed the past - how could he not with Sir Roland rapping his knuckles (figuratively) should he hit a bum note? No bum notes here - Hanna, your job is done!
Perez got his nose, almost, in front when he placed (2nd) in Florida's Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition last year. Second? My God! who won?
Nearness of You is just about the best piano version I've heard of that tune (correction, delete 'just').
The originals too are just what it says on the box. Perez is no mean composer.
Throw Williams' alto into the mix and you get the lyricism that Paul Desmond only achieved when Brubeck was tranquilised.
Kneeland and Garnett deliver the goods.
I like this a lot!
Available Oct. 13 on Myna Records.
Lance.
PS: One of our local football teams has a guy called Perez who is currently being applauded for raising his team from bottom to second bottom of the Premier League. If that Perez was as good, soccerwise, as this Perez is, music wise, his team would be in the Champions League!
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