Tuesday, December 20, 2005

the best jazz in 2005

Every year I choose, the best jazz of the current year. But 2005 was very difficult to pick
one out. I'll pick later on. But I do have the best track of 2005:

Jessica Williams
Live At Yoshi's Vol.2 Maxjazz 214 
        Track 1 - Flamenco Sketches ( m.davis )

Cover (Live at Yoshi's, Vol. 2:Jessica Williams)

The rest of the CD is very good, but this track is just amazing, just eargasm !!!!

By Buddy Bolden 
Jessica Williams is a phenomenally gifted pianist who combines great technical proficiency with profound musicality. By turns dramatic, lyrical, and meditative, her playing contains echoes of such predecessors as Waller, Garner, Garland, Monk, and Evans (to name just a few), yet her sound is distinctively her own and decidedly fresh and modern. As an improviser she is boundlessly creative and never seems less than fully engaged and "in the moment"; not only does she seem to be able to play anything that occurs to her, but what occurs to her is always interesting and often arrestingly beautiful. The two volumes of "Live at Yoshi's" present her at her best, and in the company of collaborators whose playing complements hers very effectively. The song selection strikes a nice balance, with a good mix of standards, works by other jazz musicians, and Williams's own lovely and inventive compositions. The sound is also exceptionally good; while the piano is perhaps a shade brighter than would be ideal, the recording captures the subtleties and nuances of the performances with great clarity and detail.

by Scott Yanow
Jessica Williams is in typically superb form throughout this live trio set. Her interpretations of Miles Davis' "Flamenco Sketches" (which is rarely ever revived) and Sonny Rollins' catchy "Paul's Pal" are cheerful and she sounds exuberant on a witty version of "Why Do I Love You." Other performances are more straightforward and, although Thelonious Monk is usually cited as a major influence, she only hints at Monk a little bit on "Lulu's Back in Town." Otherwise, Williams sounds quite original, stretching herself on four of her originals and enjoying the support of bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Victor Lewis. This is a fun outing by a great pianist.

Ate a proxima,
Worldjazz

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