Search - David Hazeltine :: Modern Standards

Jazz Piano Trio With Wide Appeal

John Tapscott | Canada | 05/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pianist David's Hazeltine's "Modern Standards" CD has the potential to become a very popular jazz recording and to bring high quality jazz to a wide audience. Hazeltine has chosen nine standards for interpretation, some of which have a fairly high profile in the public consciousness, such as "Yesterday", "How Deep Is Your Love", and "For the Love of You." Yet this is no "pop cover" recording, but a real jazz recording from beginning to end without a hint of artistic compromise.



Hazeltine's rich and personal harmonic sense enhances the tunes while always leaving them very recognizable. Bacharach's "A House is Not a Home" may be the most intriguing tune, in which Hazeltine inserts "Giant Steps" changes. "How Deep Is Your Love" receives an excellent reading, underlined by a nicely swinging rhythm. Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" captures the listener's attention with it's driving uptempo section, while "Yesterday" is a reflective solo piece by Hazeltine. "A Time For Love" is performed as a gently swinging waltz. David Williams on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums provide impeccable support for Hazeltine throughout the CD and solo well in their spots. Everything here is played with exquisite taste, well thought-out arrangements, and complete dedication to a swinging groove, though one may occassionally wish for a few more sparks of bebop fire.



Overall, this is a well recorded and warmly recommended 58 minute CD which should be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners, including those who normally fall outside the "jazz camp.""

An Excellent Transposition Of Pop To Jazz......

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 10/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"of songs of the 50's thru the 70's which have retained their popularity and may now well be considered standards.



Most of the songs are well familiar to everone ranging from "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" to "How Deep Is Your Love" from the late 70's "Saturday Night Fever" (and the disco era). My favorites are "Yesterday" (Lennon '65), "Who Can I Turn To" (Bricusse '60?), "Moment To Moment" (Mancini '65) and "A Time For Love" (Mandel late 60's).



David Hazeltine is an excellent pianist who always sounds like he's digging what he's playing. His improvisation abounds with well developed ideas and a fresh approach that I dig!.....such as his intro, similar to "Poinciana", to "For The Love Of You" (Isley Brothers early 70's).



The description of this appealing cd can be told no better than John Tapscott's earlier review. As he stated, whether you're part of the "jazz camp" or not, this should have a wide appeal, but especially if you dig good jazz piano trios!"