Astor’s Place
Zoho, 2023
8/10
The globally revered French artist and composer Dimitri Landrain brings his piano playing to these 9 original pieces, where Jim Robertson and Keith Balla are in attendance for the songs that tell Landrain’s life story.
The frisky title track gets the listen off to an animated start, where the spirit of tango is present via the agile drums and precise keys, and “Hotel Bar” follows with no lack of melody and rich song craft thanks to Balla’s meticulous bass plucking.
In the middle, “Lovers In The Rain” carries much intimacy in the cautious balladry that tugs on the heartstrings, while “De Buen Tono” is groove oriented in rumba sort of fashion that’s as stylish as it is elegant.
Approaching the end, the introspective nature of “Nostalgia” displays a cozy rhythm section amid the mature keys, and “Waltz For Billy” exits with a nod to Billy Strayhorn by way of its intricate progressions and harmonic demeanor.
A highly cultured and thoughtful listen, Landrain’s work is nothing short of luminous, and the tremendous beauty he possesses makes each selection here memorable.
Travels well with: Ben Sher- Samba For Tarsila; Marco Pignataro- Chant For Our Planet