No one can deny that Bill Charlap was one of the greatest jazz pianists of his generation. His encyclopedic knowledge of the American Songbook is second to none, and his fascinating phrasing, extraordinary instrumental talent and irrepressible imagination make every listen to his splendid recordings a real pleasure.
As many know, Charlap has recorded several albums of great interest for Venus Records, being able to count on the legendary New York Trio, formed by him, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart. For this album, Charlap has instead decided to take a slightly different direction, opting for a trio without drums, with guitarist Peter Bernstein and bassist Peter Washington.
The choice to replace the drums with a guitar makes the trio's timbre softer and its atmosphere much more intimate. It also has the advantage of bringing the double bass further forward in the sound image, allowing in this case to appreciate Washington's extraordinary virtuosity. For his part, Charlap shows off a performance of incredible beauty and solos that will make even the most insensitive of listeners have a lump in their throats. Perhaps at first glance the band's interpretation may seem old-fashioned ("old fashioned", indeed), but the way in which they perform the famous standards on the program is certainly modern, sophisticated and completely trendy. - soundandmusic.com
Tracks
01. I'm Old Fashioned (Jerome Kern)
02. I Can't Get Started (Vernon Duke)
03. Stella By Starlight (Victor Young)
04. Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young)
05. All The Things You Are (Jerome Kern)
06. Easy Living (Ralph Rainger)
07. Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen)
08. Angel Eyes (Matt Dennis)
09. What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter)
10. Body And Soul (Johnny Green)
11. Gone With The Wind (Allie Wrubel)
12. Everything Happens To Me (Matt Dennis)
13. These Foolish Things (Harry Link/Jack Strachey)
BILL CHARLAP piano
PETER BERNSTEIN guitar
PETER WASHINGTON drums
Recorded at Avatar Studio in New York on December 17 & 18, 2009
Venus Records VHCD-78189 (Japan)