Customer Reviews

Tethered Moon: Kikuchi, Peacock & Motian Play Kurt Weill

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Paul Motian and Gary Peacock have always preferred to be equal partners rather than "rhythm section" in piano trios, and Tethered Moon continues the tradition. Masabumi Kikuchi may not be a well-known pianist, but he is absolutely worthy of his peerless partners, and of course Kurt Weill's melancholy songs. If you like your jazz more abstract but still introspective rather than aggressive, you'll like this.

I had te get accustomed to this higly concentrated, not easily accessible music. Needed a break after three numbers. I got not clear who was responsible for that reaction: The compositions of Kurt Weill, the way these three musicians made a performance out of the Weill scores (all three famous for their almost philosophical, well-considered music-making), I myself or a combination of these factors. Anyway: advise can be not to listen to all of the music consecutively.
Kikuchi plays here even more contemplative than on other recordings, like Hollow-Out (with Elvin Jones) or You And The Night And The Music with Helen Merrill.
The overall impression, however, is one of great quality and thoroughness.
If you like the music of Weill and are positively familiar with the three performers: don't hesitate and try a confrontation. It might certainly be rewarding.