An interesting take on standards both familiar and not so familiar but all with the common denominator as to be, in the hands of this trio, almost totally new. The opening Over the Rainbow certainly isn't in Kansas anymore - it's not even in Oz - but wherever it is I'm booking my seat on the next flight.
Someone to Watch Over me pays a little more respect to the tune with Haidu approaching the Gershwin melody with a delicate re-harmonisation bringing to mind Bill Evans who walked the same side of the street. Williams adds his own lines with a subdued Hart providing a third dimension.
Freddie Hubbard's Up Jumped Spring doesn't so much jump as gently climb - pretty much like today's weather - but when it does erupt it's, unlike today's weather, almost summer as the tune is laid out in gloriously rhythmic 3/4 time. Williams's solo adding to the spring feeling.
Obsessión, seemingly a standard in the Afro-Latin world, is a tune new to me but one that the trio have little difficulty into translating to the jazz idiom. It's a lovely tune that I now realise I've actually heard many times without knowing the title. Again, the trio go off in several directions but always meet up where unity is demanded.
Days of Wine and Roses has a nice swingy feel to it with some virtuoso flourishes from Haidu and, as ever, solid support from Williams and Hart.
After You've Gone sees the pianist bringing this hoary old standard into the 21st century before handing centre stage to the legend that is Billy Hart who does some intelligent crowd-pleasing without threatening the listener's eardrums.
I've Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good) certainly is good - if you're not a recipient of the condition brought on by unrequited love that is. It's a melancholic rendition in accord with the sentiments. Haidu getting to the heart of the song with Williams and Hart sharing the emotions.
There may be better piano trio albums this year but I'm not holding my breath... Lance
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