There are no bad Stanley Cowell albums. All of the pianist's leadership recordings are resplendent works of dazzling art. I don't say this about all jazz artists, since most have their moments of greatness and their misfires. Not so Cowell. Like McCoy Tyner, Cowell is percussive, robust, soulful and plays with a lovely lyricism enveloped by rich, stormy textures. And yet, when was the last time you heard someone raving about Cowell? This is unfortunate, since he should be acknowledged today as the jazz piano great that he is and always has been.
If you are unfamiliar with Cowell or his discography, a good starting place is Games. Recorded in Copenhagen in September 1991, the album on the Danish Steeplechase label features Stanley Cowell (p), Cheyney Thomas (b) and Wardell Thomas (d). It's hypnotically beautiful from start to finish, with songs twisting and turning and heading off on multiple melodic adventures. From there, you can go back in time to 1966 or forward to recent recordings.
Cowell's leadership albums are sensational but so are his sideman dates with Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land from 1966 to 1968 and his work with equally unheralded trumpeter Charles Tolliver from 1967 to 2008 (both co-founded Strata-East Records). I'll have more favorites from Cowell and Tolliver in the weeks ahead. Both are exceptional. Both should be celebrated globally. - Marc Myers
Tracks
1. Sienna: Welcome to This New World (Stanley Cowell)
2. Games
3. New Picture (Jimmy Heath)
4. Today, What a Beautiful Day (Stanley Cowell)
5. Four in One (Thelonious Monk)
6. Orientale (Stanley Cowell)
7. Four Harmonizations of the Blues (Stanley Cowell)
8. From the Rivers of Our Fathers (Stanley Cowell)
9. Inner Urge (Joe Henderson)
STANLEY COWELL piano
WARDELL THOMAS drums
CHEYNEY THOMAS bass
Recorded August 1991
SteepleChase Records - SCCD 31293