New Releases Spotlight: Week of May 18, 2015

This week in The Music Lounge, music director Paul Abella takes a look at new releases from three pianists… two veteran piano players and one up-and-coming kid:

And by kid, I do mean kid! Pianist Joey Alexander is just 11 years old, and has put out a disc on jazz label Motema called My Favorite Things.  There are three tunes on this album that really caught my ear.  First, the arrangement of “My Favorite Things” is a bit different than you’re used to hearing, yet different enough to stick with you.  The version of “It Might As Well Be Spring” gets a modern twist and Monk’s “I Mean You” is very well played.

Cyrus Chestnut has a new disc out titled A Million Colors In Your Mind.  Cyrus has long been known for being a very grooving piano player with a great feel.  That’s exactly what you get here.  Billy Strayhorn’s “Day Dream” is gorgeous, as is the version of “I’ve Never Been In Love Before.”  But the real winner on this set?  …is Lionel Richie’s “Hello.”  It is revelatory how good it sounds as a mid-tempo quasi-bossa nova. 

Finally, former Jazz Messenger and member of the Ray Brown Trio, pianist Benny Green has a new release of all-original tunes on Sunnyside Records called Live in Santa Cruz.  “Tales of Malone” (for long-time collaborator, guitarist Russell Malone) and “Cactus Flower” are the standouts here, though, really, this whole disc is really pretty fantastic and swings nicely.  Kenny Washington is flawless as always behind the drums, and there are some BURNING moments on this disc.

Paul will have more new releases next week in The Music Lounge.  ‘Til next time… keep your ears open!