Search - Chip Stephens Trio :: Holding on to What Counts

Cookin!

cal jazz | Encinitas, California USA | 06/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first cut alone here is worth the price of the album--its what led me to buy it when I heard it on the radio--because unfortunately, I had never heard of Mr. Stephens before. But he plays just the kind of virtuoso, hard-swinging piano that I like to listen to again and again. I knew "Cookin" from Phineas Newborn's version of it, but I think Stephens' version is even better--those opening breaks are amazing. The rest of the songs are good, too, with some nice, complex counterpoint rhythm work on Epistrophy, and some laid back, Benny Green/Oscar Peterson type block chords on "Beans and Weenies." If you are a fan of straight-ahead, in-the-pocket jazz piano played with incredible, but not over the top technique, check this album out."