Search - Jacky Terrasson :: Jacky Terrasson

Like it but don't love it

John P Perhonis | University Park, Maryland United States | 03/20/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think this young musician is terrific, and worth my listening time. I would like to have the kind of technical control on the piano he has, plus his grand extroversion and energy, to be able to spontaneously express whatever I felt or heard at the moment. Important to jazz. But what is also important for jazz as I have found over years and years of listening, is to develop a coherent musical statement or to tell a kind of story. The bebop folks and late swing folks, like Lester and Bud and the other big names knew this and did it. It seems as if their musical statement was a reflection of a deeper statement of self. Their young inheritors don't necessarily do this, and I don't know why except that it may be something you have inside, not something available outside, and maybe they just haven't been around enough. I hate to make it sound like the usual stuff, like race, and now age bias. Jackie has a lot of energy and skill, but I am not much interested in what he says, or doesn't say. It lacks focus and coherence, or at least a kind of focus and coherence that engages me. As a trio experience there is a lot of good things going with dynamics, voicing, etc, but as an extended jazz solo experience, it ain't got that much. I like the challenge the jazz musician has put before himself to carve out a musical statement or series of statements that have integrity. The best of these - the giants alive today- are Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, to name a few. The giants of giants are Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Folks like Jacky Terrasson and Brad Mehldau are nowhere near this league. This album shows great talent, great music, good jazz, but if you really want the adult stuff check out someone like Mulgrew Miller. There is so much listening time."

He doesn't just interpret melodies, he excavates them.

06/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never heard anyone toy with the melodies of standards like he does. He is in love with the craft of muscial arrangement. The piano is his canvas of gentle brushstrokes. Highly introspective. His exchanges with Okegwo and Parker are empathic in the best possible sense."

Excellent Jazz from a little-known artist.

Joseph | Akron, OH | 08/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jacky Terrasson may be an aquired taste to new listeners, but once you get used to his style you'll wonder what you did without songs like "I Love Paris" and "I Fall in Love Too Easily." I actually heard "I Love Paris" on the radio one night and called the station to find out what it was.

Probably wouldn't be a good first jazz cd, but if you already like jazz this will be a welcome addition to your collection."