Trip the Light Fantastic

CDs RECOMENDADOS 4 1/2 STARS

For reasons that, with all certainty, relate to his commitment to education and his role as a thinker of jazz - the symptomatically entitled "Forward Motion", a manual of improvisation of his own, resulting in precisely this dedication to learning jazz - Hal Galper is, in my opinion, one of the musicians most unjustly neglected in recent decades. Galper recorded in 1989, the fantastic Portrait (Concord Jazz), one of my favorite albums of the piano, bass and drums trio, with Ray Drummond and Billy Hart, respectively. His new album, although it may not get to exactly the same level as Portrait, constitutes a true treat of jazz piano.

The pianist himself is more adventurous than ever, and with bassist Jeff Johnson to fulfill perfectly the difficult task of pasting together all the parts in a music full of information, diversity and complexity. All play rhythmically, energetic and extremely flexible, with drummer John Bishop appearing as one piece as delicious as it was unexpected - Bishop hits, in fact, both the skins and the cymbals so consistently amazing - in a trio that easily could be overlooked, as happened with me for some time, but which is worth paying much attention.

Translated from Portuguese