Search - Marcus Roberts :: Gershwin for Lovers

Gershwin For Lovers (Of Gershwin)

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 09/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best jazz piano trio treatment of Gershwin that I have heard. In particular "A Foggy Day", with more than a nod to the style of Erroll Garner, really captures the essence of the song, mentally conjuring the images of the title........beautiful....almost painfully so!For "The Man I Love", the descriptive words that come to mind are elegance and sophistication. Herlin Riley provides the entry for "Our Love Is Here To Stay" which evolves into a low key restrained treatment overall. "Summertime", after an elaborate entry, which includes some fine arco bass work on the part of Reginald Veal, switches tempo with more than just an allusion to Ahmad Jamal's "Poinciana". There's quite an elaboration by Roberts on the verse of "Someone To Watch Over Me". The whole treatment of "It Ain't Necessarily So" is very unique and compelling.Make no mistake, there is no stride piano treatment here in this music from the thirties. This is a fantastically very contemporary treatment of the works of Gershwin, one of the best jazz trio presentations that I've heard."

Getting warmer....

Jim Kibble | 05/26/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ignore the tacky title. Ignore the tacky packaging, too, with a smarmy photo straight out of a Dubonnet ad. What you're left with is Marcus Roberts's finest trio recording ever. Perhaps the sheer splendor of Gershwin's melodies managed to mitigate the pianist's habitual coolness, but these are irresistible (and yes, romantic) readings of "A Foggy Day" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and a clutch of other beauties. Some listeners have given Roberts flack about the leisurely (or, depending on your point of view, lugubrious) tempos. Me, I think they're fine. And even if you're allergic to ballads, there's a galloping Afro-Cuban groove on "Summertime" and some bonafide swinging towards the end of the set. If only his recent Ellington homage were as warm-blooded as this one!"

Sublime

MT | ATLANTA | 11/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are searching for a relaxed, romantic jazzy mood, look no further, as Marcus Roberts has done it again. Truly one of his most memorable works."