Piano Short Stories

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Donald Brown's first solo piano date is an imaginative and wide-ranging program. Starting off with a well-disguised, funky introduction to an eye-opening take of Rodgers and Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," his sprightly interpretation of the old warhorse "On Green Dolphin Street" should get any crowd snapping their fingers. Brown is equally effective exploring other jazz composers' works. His unique way of opening Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" adds a degree of suspense to this normally lighthearted song; Thelonious Monk's features a wild boogie-woogie bass. "Take the 'A' Train" seems to follow a predictable route, but briefly detours into a collage of themes from the 1930s and 1940s. Brown grew to become one of the most respected jazz composers during the decade, and this live CD has four fine examples of his work: the delightful, striding "For Pops"; the discordant, Monk-influenced "In Walked Toot"; the very tender ballad "Self Portrait"; the gospel-flavored "Clermont by Night"; and the bluesy "Philippe's Stomp." The audience is respectively silent as they witness these masterful performances; this release should appeal greatly to a wide range of jazz piano fans.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo