Light Made Lighter
ASIN: B00005QK7I
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Craig Taborn takes the basic jazz trio--piano, bass, and drums--and shakes it up good. "Bodies We Came Out Of" sounds like an adrenalized remake of Thelonious Monk's skeletal "Misterioso," with a hint of hip-hop in drummer Gerald Cleaver's cymbal rhythms. This working trio (with bassist Chris Lightcap) knows how to pull together without tripping itself up, even while taking broad liberties with the pulse. Taborn's brisk take on "I Cover the Waterfront" (the lone standard here) is a caricature of cocktail piano: he stretches and contracts the melody, tosses off rapid asides with one hand while pursuing a separate line with the other, piles up notes and sweeps them aside. It'd be comic if the piano playing wasn't so deft, and the bass and drums weren't on his heels all the way. The creative tension dissipates on slow numbers, which do however let Taborn show off a more delicate touch. The uptempo tracks mark this as one of the more dynamic piano trios anywhere. --Kevin Whitehead
Light Made Lighter,Craig Taborn,Thirsty Ear,Avant-Garde Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop
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Light Made Lighter
Craig Taborn Manufacturer: Thirsty Ear ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  Avant Garde & Free Jazz
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ASIN: B00005QK7I Release Date: 2001-10-23 |
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Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Craig Taborn takes the basic jazz trio--piano, bass, and drums--and shakes it up good. "Bodies We Came Out Of" sounds like an adrenalized remake of Thelonious Monk's skeletal "Misterioso," with a hint of hip-hop in drummer Gerald Cleaver's cymbal rhythms. This working trio (with bassist Chris Lightcap) knows how to pull together without tripping itself up, even while taking broad liberties with the pulse. Taborn's brisk take on "I Cover the Waterfront" (the lone standard here) is a caricature of cocktail piano: he stretches and contracts the melody, tosses off rapid asides with one hand while pursuing a separate line with the other, piles up notes and sweeps them aside. It'd be comic if the piano playing wasn't so deft, and the bass and drums weren't on his heels all the way. The creative tension dissipates on slow numbers, which do however let Taborn show off a more delicate touch. The uptempo tracks mark this as one of the more dynamic piano trios anywhere. --Kevin WhiteheadCustomer Reviews:
A Rhythm Record.......2005-06-29
This is a developing jazz Megastar........2004-12-08
Poor ol' piano trio's gettin' a make-over . . ........2003-07-03
I don't know why I waited so long to review this disc. I guess I've been giving the seven or eight Thirsty Ear Blue Series albums I own a second listen, and this one stood out as one of the very best.
Of all the great young pianists out there, Craig Taborn may be the most talented. One of the things I love most about him is his playfulness. For example, in his nearly unrecognizable take on "I Cover the Waterfront," his outro features several sly quotes of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Why? Just for fun. Another thing I like about him is the fluidity of his playing. In the modern piano trio, time and tempos shift dramatically. This trio reacts with instant recognition and pulls off some incredibly glib musical conversations. Also Taborn, like Meldhau, has a romantic streak that comes into full blossom on the title cut, a simply gorgeous ballad.
Some may indeed object to the seeming lack of cohesiveness in these proceedings. But as has been pointed out, this isn't three chords and a static drumbeat. This is highly sophisticated, melodically and rhythmically nuanced music. Certainly, it's not for everyone. But if you've got even the slightest inclination toward modern piano trio music, I believe this will be a very rewarding and memorable listen for you.
...i gotta stop buyin erthang other people recommend..........2002-01-25
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