Slickrock

Denny Zeitlin

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 2004)
• Original Release Date: May 25, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Max Jazz Records
• ASIN: B00023GFWM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #203,338 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Newsweek
"What marks all of Zeitlin’s work is a sense of journey, but one complete with arrival as well as departure."

Product Description
Zeitlin begins a new chapter with his debut on MAXJAZZ, Slickrock (May 25, 2004), which features the great bassist Buster Williams and the innovative drummer, Matt Wilson on every tune. Zeitlin has been performing with Williams and Wilson over the last several years and was excited to do this trio recording date.

Slickrock begins with a buoyant take on "You and the Night and the Music" by Howard Dietz & Arthur Schwartz and leads into the languid "Wishing On The Moon," one of Zeitlin’s four originals on the CD. His next composition, "Every Which Way," uses a catchy, funky rhythmic underpinning to Zeitlin’s dazzling piano work. "Put Your Little Foot Right Out" by Larry Spier seduces by slowing things down again. "It Could Happen To You" by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen also entrances with Zeitlin’s breathtakingly light and fluid piano intro and shifting meters. With a poignant reharmonization, he mines the sadness of "Body and Soul" by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman and then swings on "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Ben Bernie, Kenneth Casey and Maceo Pinkard. The trio burns on Wayne Shorter’s "E.S.P." before performing Zeitlin’s charming "Just Passing By." Zeitlin moves to close the CD with his extended composition "Slickrock," which employs written sections, road maps and totally free! improvisation and was inspired while he was mountain biking in the Utah canyonlands. Part one of the suite, "Dawn; Gathering" is spare and somber, yet expectant. "On the Trail" follows and is boisterous and complex. "Recovery" provides space for contemplation utilizing creative harmonic and rhythmic interplay. Zeitlin ends the suite and Slickrock with a strong stand on "On the Trail Again." With his brilliant lines, beautiful touch and unerring musical sense, Zeitlin has again produced a recording that captivates both with its fresh interpretations of standards and its intriguing original compositions.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interplay at its best, June 8, 2004

By	andre salz (Quakertown, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been following the playing of Denny Zeitlin since his duo session with Charlie Haden. Here he is paired with another giant of jazz bass playing. Ok I must confess I play and love the bass and the tastefull and disciplined playing of Buster Williams on this recording is worth the price of its purchase for me. For all nonbass nuts the interplay of the principles on all the tunes is always unpredictable and musical, making for great collective improvising. The ommission of one star(ratings are stupid I know)is due to my personal distaste for atmospheric tinkling in the title compostion but that is a matter of personal taste and I urge all to experience this release.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great trio achievement, July 18, 2004

By	M. Rodriguez Frederic - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There's always a risk in going back to standards. In the beginning I was suspicious : I've always preferred originals or deconstructed standards with new ideas and creative urges... Of course here, you won't find Uri Caine or Kenny Werner, but it's all the same very very good.
Finally I decided to get this set by veteran pianist Zeitlin and the result ? Well, I was amazed and I'm still. It's a very good piano trio achievement. Never boring, which is rare nowadays... No mawkishness, no shooting line. Buster Williams on double bass is what we already knew (listen to his great&long-time team up with Kenny Barron): Amazing, and always fascinating (listen to his bass-lines on "Wishing on The Moon"). The whole album is fresh, cool, and it swings great. A real surprise for me. One of my favorite tune is "Every Which Way" (a very groovy track 3 that you can hear on Amazon).
Enjoy yourself !