Customer Reviews

Time for Love

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

 

 

I love Renee Rosnes. She is a consummate jazz musician who can work within a larger group context (hear her recording with the Danish Radio Big Band), or in the pared down trio format. This is a Japanese recording (not sure what's become of her Blue Note contract?). From the very first tune, she does the unexpected: instead of a flashy, listen-to-my chops workout, she chooses to play an almost languid "Time For Love" that sets the tone for the program to come. She does a soulful interpretation of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life", and a welcome take on Dave Brubeck's nearly-forgotten tribute to Ellington, "The Duke." Her approach to "The Bad and the Beautiful" is a simple, two-chorus reading, reminding me of Bill Evans' version of "My Foolish Heart" on his legendary 1963 Village Vanguard recording -- i.e., she lets the melody speak for itself. Rosnes long ago became my favorite contemporary pianist. Dive in.

Renee Rosnes is a well-regarded pianist whose CD's can nonetheless be hard to find. This CD seems to be a Japanese import, I didn't see any reviews of it on American jazz websites. It's a piano trio CD, she's backed by Peter Washington and Lewis Nash, a rhythm section that's easy to find on other contemporary jazz CD's. I'm a tough reviewer of piano trio CD's because it isn't my favorite format (I like horns and/or guitar). With that in mind, this CD is pitched basically right down the middle. There's a mix of tempos ("Suddenly It's Spring" is fast, "Lush Life" is slow) but it's a tidy-sounding CD. The program is mostly standards, though some of them, like "The Duke", are more famous than others. Renee's one original, "Dizzy Spells" is the most vibrant and unique-sounding song on the CD. I'd enjoy more if she shook it up a little bit, like on "Dizzy Spells", but maybe she was aiming it to some specific Japanese market niche?

Her playing doesn't challenge the imagination, but is, nevertheless, beautiful and the trio plays together as an ensemble well.