Live At Smalls Jazz Club
Cellar, 2022
9/10
Listen to Live At Smalls Jazz Club
The legendary pianist Kirk Lightsey finds himself front and center across these 6 tunes that welcome Mark Whitfield (guitar), Santi Debriano (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums), and are both creative originals and inventive interpretations of jazz standards.
“In Your Own Sweet Way” starts the listen with Lightsey’s incredibly meticulous piano playing alongside the playful drumming and warm guitar lines, and “Freedom Jazz Dance” takes that lead and delivers 12 minutes of dynamic interaction that’s full of timeless free jazz exploration.
“Pee Wee” and “Heaven Dance” land in the middle, where the former carries an intimacy that’s fleshed out with much care, and the latter, an original, you could and should dance to with its upbeat tempo and versatile energy that really highlights Whitfield’s guitar acrobatics.
“Lament” arrives at the end, and it’s a reflective album highlight that’s populated by Lightsey’s inimitable playing, and “Blues On The Corner” exits with busy, animated textures that’s controlled chaos at its finest and thumps and shakes with bluesy, jazz fueled rock.
Recorded at a time when Lightsey was at his musical peak, there’s no lack of melody, rhythm and harmonic flourishes packed into this very frisky and timeless set.
Travels well with: Hal Galper- Ivory Forest Redux; Bruce Barth Trio- Dedication