Best of 2002: Top of the Portland pop
01/03/03
"Upper Road," Clay Giberson (Origin Records): A young jazz pianist who plays in Dan Balmer's Go By Train trio, Giberson's previous solo album, "Mirador," was a strong straight-ahead set. Here, though, he fashions a more contemporary sound that has the intelligence, lyricism, depth and accessibility to appeal to fans of, say, Pat Metheny. Balmer, drummer Carlton Jackson and others lend a hand, and saxophonist Hans Teuber is especially impressive.