What a month this has been for albums by pianists! Not just any pianists but by the crème de la crème - legends all.
Monty Alexander, Ahmad Jamal and now Kirk Lightsey. By coincidence, all are live performances and the ambience between band and audience on all three recordings is there for all to hear.
On this September 2021 session at NYC's Smalls Jazz Club Lightsey features guitarist Mark Whitfield. Whitfield proves to be a musical soulmate with his lyrical playing totally compatible with the pianist's own melodic side. And it doesn't end there - bassist Debriano is also strong in that field and he too adds to the overall sense of unity. With Victor Lewis behind the kit the audience at Smalls must have thought they were in heaven which maybe inspired Kirksey's original Heaven Dance although, having seen the appropriately named club via YouTube (see link below), I doubt if there was much space for dancing!
The material, apart from the aforementioned original, comprises jazz standards by Brubeck, Eddie Harris, Tony Williams, J.J. Johnson and McCoy Tyner. Tyner's Blues on the Corner is an out and out swinger that has Whitfield wailing like a man possessed, a brief but effective interlude by Debriano restores sanity before Lightsey throws in his two bits. The guitarist joins him for some interplay with the whole caboodle driven to the edge by Lewis. This is my favourite track but, to be honest, upon repeated playing they are all favourite tracks. I've another Lightsey album - this time with a bigger band - on the stocks so watch this space... Lance
Check out the session from which the album may have came from HERE. Release date Nov. 4.
In Your Own Sweet Way; Freedom Jazz Dance; Pee Wee; Heaven Dance; Lament; Blues on the Corner.
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