Search - Fred Hersch, Michael Moore, Gerry Hemingway :: Thirteen Ways

Musicianship isn't everything...

jive rhapsodist | NYC, NY United States | 01/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Three incredible musicians. Beautiful, sensitive playing. Strong sense of engagement - they've played together, on and off, for years. But it's very mezzo-forte, and according to me deserves a mezzo-forte rating. I pull it out occasionally, but I find that it's like a soft-focus pastel Jimmy Giuffre. They are masters though. But masters who don't know the difference between "pretty" and "beautiful", Even their craggy moments have soft edges. Swamp Thing shows that there is a whole realm of music that will have to remain foreign to them. Funkiness ain't their (mezzo) - forte. A world where Fred Hersch is considered a great Jazz pianist is a world I should bid farewell to. Although he DOES show a Monk/Duke influence here which is absent elsewhere. Speaking of which, Boo Boo's Birthday sounds like a translation from a Misha Mengelberg/Han Bennink template. Viva la difference! And Mr.Jelly Lord! If you're gonna play in a period style, make sure it's the right period...sounds like they got their Morton/Dodds brothers trio 78's mixed up with their Benny Goodman/Teddy Wilson/Gene Krupa's. Viva la difference again! They're really good at moving in and out of time, they play collectively with real aplomb, but it's all so trivial..."