Retrospect In Retirement Of Delay: The Solo Recordings
Omnivore, 2021
9/10
Listen to Retrospect In Retirement Of Delay: The Solo Recordings
A jazz pianist who inspired legends like John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner and many more, Hasaan Ibn Ali recorded his debut major label album in 1965, but the record was shelved and then thought to have gone up in flames in a warehouse fire.
Fortunately, that lost album was discovered, and later released as Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Album. Here, we’re treated to another dimension of Hasaan’s inimitable art, where Alan Sukoenig and David Shrier, both students at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962, documented these standards and originals from 1962-65.
“Falling In Love With Love” starts the listen with bouncy keys and incredible attention to detail as Hasaan manipulates the Baldwin baby grand like few others could, and “Atlantic Ones”, previously known as “Blue Is”, follows with firm key acrobatics that showcase incredible progression across the mesmerizing landscape.
Elsewhere on disc 1, “Body And Soul” has Hasaan playing a Steinway grand with fascinating agility, while “Off My Back Jack’ has him introducing the poetic, lush and cautious climate. “They Say It’s Wonderful”, a tune off of Hasaan’s demo, then quivers with a profound talent, and “Arabic Song” exits this portion with a brief a cappella, soulful vocal piece.
Disc 2 opens with “True Pain”, a 2 part song that has Hasaan playing a spinet, where both soft and firm textures are present, and further on “Sweet And Lovely” is so meticulously executed that it hardly seems possible that just 1 piano is present.
Deeper still, “Untitled Ballad” is indeed full of much sublime balladry, and “Bésame Mucho” illustrates so much intricate and flowing melody, it’s really quite hard to think of anyone else who has played with such a vision.
Hasaan passed away much too young in 1980. These tunes that have sitting around unissued for decades are finally seeing a proper release, and it comes with thorough liner notes from Matthew Shipp, Alan Sukoenig and Lewis Porter, as well as unpublished photos, which further documents the inestimable skill of a piano genius that amazed everyone who entered his orbit.
Travels well with: Wesley Stace- Late Style; Hasaan Ibn Ali- Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Album