Search - Ian Bargh :: Only Trust Your Heart

Swinging Jazz Piano

John Tapscott | Canada | 06/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 65 minute CD is full of joyous, swinging, solo piano. Ian Bargh, born in Scotland, but resident in Toronto, Canada, is a first-call accompanist for American soloists on their Toronto club dates. And one can see why. He has a driving two-handed style, and one never gets the feeling that's anything's missing.
Bargh's style is closer to swing than bop, though he romps with no problem through the bop anthem "Cherokee." When he breaks into stride I'm very much reminded of Dave McKenna. Furthermore, Bargh tackes a wide variety of standards, including some lesser known ballads such as "When April Comes Again." Bargh handles the ballads with sensitivity, but never lets them become too sentimental or dreamy; his style is far too straightahead for that. With Ian Bargh, swing is never just around the corner; it's always right at hand! My personal favorites on the CD are Duke Ellington's "Sernade to Sweden" and Bargh's stomping blues "The Price Was Right." This CD, beautifully recorded on a Steinway piano in 1994, was not released until 2000. But music of this kind is timeless. Lovers of mainstream jazz will find this to be a delightful CD. If you've come this far in checking out Ian Bargh, don't let anything stop you from going all the way and purchasing this fine CD."