Customer Reviews

Touch

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

 

 

A year following her superb album, "The Art of the Piano", this new recording by Jessica Williams has a difficult standard to match. Each new album has its own balance and consistency is key. "Touch" has less variety, less pizazz, and more united by a gentler mood. It does not attain that nearly impossible goal, but it is worthy, nonetheless. Some of the new takes on previously recorded pieces are very fine, indeed; other works are good but do not quite click for me. The better works, in my view, are I Loves You Porgy, performed slower and more thoughtful than before, and both Rosa Parks and Wise One, which are deep, though somewhat similar in tone. Long a fan of Jessica Williams, I find her inventiveness in improvisations, passion and sensitivity in development, and classical but swingingly light technique ever interesting. The sound quality of the album itself is outstanding. As Williams points out, the piano and venue are conducive to good engineering.

Touch is a Beautiful and Sensitive recording that has enjoyed many spins... This Lovely CD is simply divine whenever or wherever heard... I find this music appeals to a wide range of listeners. Unusual in todays market does one find a piano recording that transends its genre. Lets put the word out there... Its not just the jazz audience who can enjoy this wonderful music... HIghly Recomended!

Jessica continues to evolve and mature as a musician and player. I find that this album gets better every time I listen to it. It made Allaboutjazz.com's Dan McClenaghan's Best Releases of 2010. I was fortunate to be at the live performance at the Triple Door theater where it was recorded in downtown Seattle. She is so adept at exploring the total range of the piano and really can draw an audience into her music. Highly recommend this CD.

Jessica Williams' opinion of herself is frankly nauseating. In her liner notes, &c, she so

easily puts herself in the same category as Bill Evans and other REAL masters, it

boggles the mind. When I listen to this record, I hear no real 'touch' to speak

of, whereas I can hear Evans, for example, play ONE CHORD and know it's him. Ms.

Williams sounds like any one of a thousand other competent piano players you

can hear all over the country. Her problem is that she has convinced herself

that she belongs in the upper echelon of jazz pianists. I find the record

self-absorbed, and containing much affect. I find his sound to be no

different or better than a college piano major. If she would come down

to earth and stop trying to convince people that she is a genius, then maybe

she'll make a record that has some real humanity in it. But for now, give

this one a pass....it's a real yawner.