Between The Lines

On Between The Lines pianist Joan Hickey delivers a CD that is more Jazz-centered with emphasis on Blues accents and the free floating pulse established long ago by the '60's Miles Davis Quintet. "With A Song In My Heart" and "The Man I Love" get strong, exuberant interpretations that feature saxophonist John Wojciechowski going wild, playing a hard, burrowing tenor on "Song" and a strong melodious soprano on "Man."
Hickey proves herself a grand, sweeping ballad player on Joe Zawinul's "Midnight Mood" and does Bud Powell proud on a frisky version of his piece, "The Fruit." Hickey's three originals, "Hebris," "Francesca" and "Contemporaneous" are all strong intricate works played with style, "Hebris" showing a tangy Hard Bop flavor and "Francesca" having a poignant beauty. The only possible drawbacks to this set are some tracks that seem designed to appeal to Baby Boomers, a reggae version of "My Funny Valentine" plus rock oldies "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Black Magic Woman." However Hickey fits a "one drop" rhythm to "Valentine" surprisingly well and the oldies don't sound too bad once everybody leaves the melodies behind and solos. Altogether this is a strong, worthwhile CD