Customer Reviews

Melody

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I heard a local NPR broadcast of the Gershwin cut from MELODY, "Ain't Necessarily So" one day going to lunch at my favorite Chinesse restaurant. What an intelligent, tasty, innovative arrangement it is. I couldn't recognize who was playing. I called the station to find the pianist was Lynne Arriale. Never heard of her/him. Later I checked her out on amazon.com and ordered the MELODY title immediately. I was smitten. "Ain't necessarily So" was only the tip of the iceberg. Every piece on this CD is well thought out, and played with attention to detail and with great sensitivity. Listen to "But Beautiful". If I had a favorite among this CD's offerings, this might be it. Not a cymbal tap out of place, no excessive ornamentation, as near perfect a balance as I've ever heard. But played with such feeling. My chest tightened and the tears started forming. The other tunes are all as good. Each time I play them I discover something I missed before, so I look forward to more discoveries with each play.

Each of these musicians is superb. They work extremely well together (obviously) and I look forward to more of these great projects.

"Some piano trios are all about the individual virtuosity of their members or focus on complex, iconoclastic arrangements. Lynne Arriale's trio gives primary place to group empathy. The communication she shares with longtime drummer Steve Davis and frequent bassist Jay Anderson produces a number of familiar themes that glow with a sense of proportion and effective for being so uncommon.

"Arriale's style is thoughtful and lean. She has come a long way in a long time. I met Lynne Arraile in a club in the East Village in 1991, she then went by the name of Lynne Bernstein. new to the big apple, lynne was full of enthusiasm, energy and perserverence. I wa sintrigued by her unorthodox method of combining music, diet and her brand of spirituality.

I was fortunate enough to book her in a club caleld "Sweet basil" located in the west village and also be the first eprson to catch her on video. I mention this because of the struggle in booking a female jazz pianist, especially one so far removed from the stereotypical, fast living, big drinkin, stereotype of such musicians. I myself coming off being a publicist for a major grammy award blues musician.

It was refreshing to see a musician who honed her music liek a science, one who was not afraid to take chances and when she won the Jazz Pianist competition in Florida. She became the first female to win this coveted award. Unfortunately, to see headlines calling her the best "female" jazz pianist was disappointing to me but she shrugged it aside and continued her journey.

Melody is a very successful part of this journey, where arriale and her band demonstarte the talent and craetivity that has made them one of the best jazz trios. This album/cd is one that should be in everyones jazz library. Thank you Lynne for your music and perserverence.

All you need to hear Lynne Arriale play is one note leading to another to know her heart! Her unique musical voice comes shining through in every moment of 'Melody'! The four original tracks by Lynne are the highlights for me.

I was drawn to purchase this CD by hearing one song from it on the radio. Unfortunately many of the "melodies" are derivative and remind me of bits and pieces of other things I've heard and I find this distracting. Trio ought to concentate on establishing a more unique sound and either doing standards in a new & refreshing way or coming up with more sparkling new material.