Customer Reviews

Summer Times

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JAZZTIMES February 2004

We have an enigma in Franck Amsallem. Born in Algeria, he has lived most of his life in the United States. Usually his albums are devoted to his excellent originals, but for Summer Times (Sunnyside) his sources for most of the tunes are as American as they come:"Jazz via Tin Pan Alley." That's a quote from his notes, which sound remarkably like his keyboard style: laid-back, yet brash; simple, yet complex: unassuming, yet confident; and above all, original. With sympathetic backing by bassist Johannes Weidenmuller and drummer Joe Chambers, Amsallem visits Gershwin three times: he turns the first four notes of "I Got Rhythm" into an ostinato launching pad for a way-up romp, repeating the motif in various forms; "Summertime" receives a refreshing 5/4 treatment; "The Man I Love" is given a calypso makeover. Amsallem is always thinking, but the emotional highlight comes on the introspective "Young and Foolish." A ballad always separates the man from the boy, and the multilayered Summer Times is all human.

Summer Times is an unusual record for pianist Franck Amsallem because, instead of him exclusively performing originals as on most of his previous recordings, he revives five standards. Amsallem shows that he can swing à la Wynton Kelly whenever he wishes and can infuse ballads with honest feeling. His interplay with bassist Johannes Weidenmüller and drummer Joe Chambers is impressive, falling somewhere between Oscar Peterson (where the pianist dominates) and Bill Evans (with equality between the three musicians). Summer Times is the perfect introduction for listeners not familiar with the fine playing of the underrated Amsallem.
- Scott Yanow AllMusicGuide