Search - Deanna Witkowski :: Wide Open Window

Jazz is a funny creature . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 03/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . seldom sticking to stereotypes, always branching out into new aesthetics, even as it annexes previously unknown musical vistas, and seeming to recreate itself every dozen or twenty years.



This disc, purveyed by a way-geeky looking redhead female pianist of heroic proportions, assaying super-sophisticated Afro/Cuban jazz, reeks of authenticity despite its unlikely genesis. But that's jazz for you. Wide Open Windows, her second outing of three as leader (neither the previous, Having to Ask, nor the subsequent, Length of Days, heard by me) is a stunner.



Witkowski, a player of great presence on piano, has absorbed, internalized, and reconfigured that venerable music, Afro-Cuban jazz, with complete ease and authority. With entirely sympathetic and deft bandmates (Jonathan Paul, bass, and Tom Hipskind, players never before heard by me, and, especially, rising saxman, Donny McCaslin on four numbers equaling about half the time), she establishes herself as a huge presence on the Latin/jazz scene.



My only gripe is her "Sanctus," arising, one supposes, out of her stint as musical director of All Angels Episcopal Church on Manhattan's Upper West Side. As a Catholic Christian, I applaud her desire to honor God with her jazz; unfortunately, this setting of the great liturgical hymn is just too mundane and "poppish" to make much of an impression. Couple that with her mediocre vocals, and you have the weakest number on the disc, despite some muscular sax from McCaslin.



But that's hardly worth complaining about, seeing as it comprises only 2:45 of disc time, so I'm not even going to subtract a half star. In any case, this is really fine Latin jazz, which, if you're at all a fan of, you won't want to miss."

A View From Within

jaz4art | Chattanooga, TN | 03/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At some point in time, a "Wide Open Window", of opportunity will unveil itself. Envision an atmosphere where one navigates the possibilities of merging ideas of the present and future then you'll discover a remarkable young pianist named Deanna Witkowski. "Wide Open Window" is Deanna's sophomore effort; I haven't heard her debut recording from 1998. Deanna hails from the Windy City, upon this riveting second outing, the wonderful talents that this lady processes informs that you're in for impeccable journey in jazz blended wrapped by the intriguing melodies of Afro-Cuban music that lures you into the grace and beauty of this exquisite collection of music.If you're looking to embrace jazz with a touch of Afro-Cuba flavored ingredients then this record comes highly-recommend. Keep all eyes upon Deanna Witkowski and her record label Khaeon Records, please follow this core of diversely talented jazz musicians that are on the horizon.Rob Young, Abstract Groove's"