Standards II
Sunnyside, 2024
8/10
The esteemed pianist Noah Haidu is joined by Buster Williams and Bill Hart for these 7 well thought interpretations.
“Over The Rainbow” stars the listen with Hart’s frisky drums alongside Haidu’s warm keys that makes for a unique contrast between quick versus soft, and “Someone To Watch Over Me” follows with intimate keys and are complemented by Williams’ well timed bass plucking.
“Obsessión” and “Days Of Wine And Roses” land in the middle, where the former radiates plenty of culture amid Haidu’s meticulous keys, while the latter allows the cautious rhythm section to illuminate the flowing keys of the album’s best.
The last track, “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)”, is a slow burner, where the elegant keys, calm bass and cozy drums emit much beauty.
An effort that’s heartfelt and exploratory, there’s 5 decades of collaboration between Williams and Hart, and that chemistry helps illuminate Haidu’s harmonic, swingin’ and diverse vision.
Travels well with: Kevin Sun- The Depths Of Memory; Aline Homzy- Éclipse