The Sundering
Arbors, 2022
8/10
A pianist and neuroscientist, John C. O’Leary III focuses on solo piano works here, where a couple of guest players complement his diverse approach to song craft.
“Aurora” opens the listen with O’Leary’s eloquent and precise piano playing that flows in and out of complicated waves of grace and beauty, and “Contextual Binding Theory” follows with a hypnotic formula that carries much emotion.
Deeper into the listen, “All The Things You Are” features Shaun Martin and recruits an intimate versus playful climate of meticulous progressions, while “Christmas 1992” uses wordless vocals amid the stirring piano.
“Samba Jelly”, the lone track with Dick Hyman, brings a unique energy that’s swift and colorful, and “The Coupling” exits the listen with a mesmerizing quality that’s as absorbing as it is creative.
O’Leary had a complicated upbringing that involved moving to the United States from Mexico and being raised by divorced parents, and his past certainly is reflected in his art on this ideal listen for those with an ear for the piano.
Travels well with: Bill O’Connell- Wind Off The Hudson; Dave Stryker- As We Are