Introductions

Neuman slips a waltz arrangement of "Blame It On My Youth" into his debut record, but there's really nothing to blame on his young age. For a 21-year-old, Neuman comes off as an extremely mature player. The risks he takes are exciting both on paper and on the keys, and with time he'll learn to push the boundaries of this music even more. The record takes off briskly with Coltrane's "26-2," and right away, there is something different about Neuman's playing. It's a quirky, almost legato, and seemingly un-bebop articulation of the uptempo melody. Of the eight tracks, only "M.J.D." is an original, with a bass-heavy, fast and hard swing that rocks you. Neuman is intense but relaxed over it. The piece fits perfectly alongside the standards and other pieces by Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver. Drummer George Fludas and bassist Dennis Carroll form an excellent supporting cast, but with exception to a couple short drum solo trades, they remain just that. I would love to hear more from Carroll, but the spotlight here is clearly on Neuman and the wings he's earning with his first album.