CD Review: Pirouet Records Jazz Compilation

Featured Artist: Pirouet Jazz Compilation

CD Title: The Best is yet Come

Year: 2008

Record Label: Pirouet Records

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Tim Hagans (trumpet), Marc Copland (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Jochen Ruckert (drums) Pablo Held (piano), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums) Bill Stewart (drums), Larry Goldings (hammond organ), Kevin Hays (piano) Walter Lang Jr. (piano), Lee Konitz (altosax) Marc Copland (piano), John Abercrombie (guitar), Drew Gress (bass), Billy Hart (drums) John Ruocco (clarinet), John Taylor (piano), Riccardo Del Fra (bass) Bil Carrothers (piano), Gary Peacock (bass), Bill Stewart (drums) Achim Kaufmann (piano), Valdi Kolli (bass), Jim Black (drums) Jason Seizer (tenor sax), Marc Copland (piano), Matthias Pichler (bass), Tony Martucci (drums) John Schroeder (piano), Christian Weidner (alto sax), Oliver Potratz (bass), Oliver Steidle (drums)

Review: Tim Hagans - See you again

Tim Hagans (trumpet), Marc Copland (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Jochen Ruckert (drums)

Tim trumpet playing is powerful and intense, a cascade of melodies with touches of Be Bop and Cool Jazz. The rhythm section keeps up the intensity, especially Jochen Ruckert on drums.

Pablo Held - Forest of Oblivion

Pablo Held (piano), Robert Landfermann (bass), Jonas Burgwinkel (drums)

Beautiful ballad with gentle, mysterious and enchanting melodies. Intimate music for a quiet, relaxing time.

Bill Stewart - Toad See Ya

Bill Stewart (drums), Larry Goldings (hammond organ), Kevin Hays (piano)

Strange combination for a Jazz group, but it works perfectly for these excellent musicans. Goldings Hammond Organ gives the music a special flavor, kind of a 70's feeling on Toad and an Italian feeling on See Ya. Larry and Kevin exchange roles, one playing the chords while the other play the melody lines.

Walter Lang Jr. - Way too early

Walter Lang Jr. (piano), Lee Konitz (alto sax)

Amazing how just two musicians can create music so beautiful and yet so deep. Sublime sax played by Lee Konitz. Every note hits you full of feeling.

Marc Copland - River Bend

Marc Copland (piano), John Abercrombie (guitar), Drew Gress (bass), Billy Hart (drums)

Mystical music, full of intensity. The kind of music that paints images on your mind. The arpeggios and harmonies sometimes feel like Irish music.

John Ruocco - Kuk Kuk

John Ruocco (clarinet), John Taylor (piano), Riccardo Del Fra (bass)

Quiet, peaceful music and playful at the same time. Ruocco playing on clarinet is hypnotic. Another tune perfect for a relaxing evening.

Bill Carrothers - Home Row

Bil Carrothers (piano), Gary Peacock (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)

Swinging tune, with instinctive improvisations and mesmerizing piano by Bill Carrothers. Stewart and Peacock swinging drums and bass never lets the energy goes down. Three masters bringing the best out of each other.

Achim Kaufmann - Stanley Park

Achim Kaufmann (piano), Valdi Kolli (bass), Jim Black (drums)

Peaceful intensity is the best way to describe Achim music. Light and yet complex music with rich and exotic harmonies and melodies.

Jason Seizer - Time Being

Jason Seizer (tenor sax), Marc Copland (piano), Matthias Pichler (bass), Tony Martucci (drums)

It is hard to listen to a good tenor sax player and not to think about John Coltrane. Nice tone on sax by Jason Seizer with solos full of emotion and again a wonderful work on piano by Marc Copland.

John Schroder - Mood 1697

John Schroeder (piano), Christian Weidner (alto sax), Oliver Potratz (bass), Oliver Steidle (drums)

Interesting and challenging music with constant changes in time and harmonies, keeps you guessing what coming next. Is like listening to different movements of a symphony.

Tracks: See you again, Forest of Oblivion, Toad, Way too early, River Bend, Kuk Kuk, Home Row, Stanley Park, Time Being, Mood 1697, See Ya



Record Label Website: http://www.pirouetrecords.com

Artist's Website: http://www.pirouetrecords.com

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Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre