Search - Johnny Coates Jr :: Portrait

Wicked enjoyable

05/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He's one of my favorites and more people should know about him.
Check out his more recent material at
pacificstrecords.comActually check that out before you buy this album, it not a great intro to his style. try paino forte"

Intimate, influential and intelligent

Tubelip | 05/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered this album as a child. My father bought it for me, as he was a jazz buff and was encouraging my own piano playing. I listened to "Alone and Alive at the Deer Head" so many times I nearly wore it out, but to this day I hear Coates style and influences in my playing. I thank my father for making such a savvy purchase.



John Coates Jr.'s intimate, ingenious and organic style influenced Keith Jarrett considerably. Just listen to Coates, then listen to Jarrett's 1977 release "Staircase". Sure, Jarrett popularized this style (later diluted by the likes of Windham Hill egotists) but Coates took his own Bill Evans influences and loosened them up a bit, frequently modulating out of the expected, often times following a short idea and expanding on it for a bit, then pulling back into the theme. It's brilliant, just listening to his mind work, listening to him develop a theme. It's also controlled, proving he has major chops. His music coveys a clarity of vision in his music: he knew what he wanted to say and said it so quietly, with near perfection.



He has remained in such obscurity, weather by design or fate, I do not know, but if enjoy piano along the likes of Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett (I know the former is much different than the latter two, but Coates falls in between), then check out Coates' music.



If you can find this somewhere, buy it. Put it on the player on a Sunday afternoon, clear a couple of hours, grab your favorite beverage and sink into this subtle masterpiece. It's worth it."