A Change Is Gonna Come
Savant, 2022
9/10
Listen to A Change Is Gonna Come
The revered pianist and composer Bill O’Connell is joined by Craig Handy, Lincoln Goines, Steve Jordan and Pedrito Martinez here, as he pens a very topical album that brings themes of racial and political injustice that exist in the pandemic driven turmoil.
“Moment’s Notice” starts the listen with O’Connell’s daring finger acrobatics, as Goines’ frisky bass complements the playful jazz spirit, and “Loco-Motive” follows with Jordan’s agile drumming aligning well with Martinez’s percussion amid the unpredictable delivery.
“Sun For Sonny” occupies the middle spot and showcases Handy’s bright soprano sax prowess, while “Enough Is Enough” trims the pace back with Handy’s tenor sax, Goines’ proficient bass and O’Connell’s firm keys making for a more cautious landscape.
Residing near the end, the busy but very controlled “Chaos” makes great use of Martinez’s vivid percussion and Handy’s soaring soprano sax, and “My Foolish Heart” exits the listen with Goines plugging in his bass and O’Connell handling Fender Rhodes on the dynamic and meticulous finish.
O’Connell’s lengthy career in music really took off in 1978 when he became the keyboardist for Mongo Santamaria’s Latin jazz band, and here he proves he’s still got the chops for a timeless jazz outing and that he certainly warranted his recent Grammy Nomination, too.
Travels well with: David Finck- BASSic Instinct; Dave Stryker- As We Are