| Details | | Producer: | Karen Kennedy | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano); David Sanchez (tenor saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Regina Carter (violin); Russell Malone (guitar); Rufus Reid (bass); Billy Hart (drums); Michael Wall Grigsby (percussion). Recorded at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York on May 16 & 17, 1999. As jazz pianists go, Kenny Barron may not be the most well known master of his trade, but he has long been a standard bearer to his fellow musicians. His well-seasoned wisdom is felt on SPIRIT SONG, a powerfully creative session of mostly Barron-penned originals that features some intriguing sidemen. Joining Barron at the core of the ensemble are contemporaries Rufus Reid on bass and Bill Hart on drums, while relatively recent stars, including David Sanchez and Regina Carter, cover the rest of the instruments. This mix of young and old makes for an impressive group sound that captivates on many levels. Barron's tastefully articulate piano is the bedrock of the session, masterfully leading his company through swinging tracks such as the opening "The Pelican" and the waltz "The Question Is." Of special note are two duets, the first with David Sanchez on McCoy Tyner's "Passion Dance" and the second with Russell Malone on the spirited "And Then Again." The disc also features some exceptionally pleasing ballads like the moving "Sonja Braga" and a spicy Latin/funk groove on the remarkable title track.
Editorial Reviews ...A varietal garden of sounds and ideas, within the framework of Barron's post-mainstream jazz sensibility....[He] is doing more than almost any pianist out there to give mainstream piano jazz a good, progressive name. JazzTimes (05/01/2000)
| See an error? Submit a change request |