Search - Denny Zeitlin :: Live at Maybeck 27

Zeitlin in Berkeley

taylor | alps | 04/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The playing is inspired. The choice of material is brilliant. The depth of Denny's soul in reaching into the meaning and spirit of these great songs is phenomenal. This is one of the most underrated, least apprciated, great jazz pianists of all time. I bought my copy of this recording on sale in France when Harmonia Mundi had a tough time selling any of Concord's Jazz CDs. I would pay 49 bucks foir it today. It is a one off. Can you imagine that this man is a qualified psychiatrist and can play the piano this well? It is amazing."

Main Stream Bop Piano at the Highest Level

Gary L Connely | Hercules, CA | 08/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Concord Records' "... Live at Maybeck Recital Hall" series of 40+ solo piano albums is Carl Jefferson's gift to jazz lovers. Working throughout the 1990's in a tiny, (it seats only 50 people), redwood paneled performance space in a private home in the hills of Berkeley, CA - Mr Jefferson and his crew recorded just about everybody who was anybody then in the world of piano jazz, (one of the few pianists NOT recorded at Maybeck was Dick Whittington, an excellent bopper who also happened to own the place - and that's doubly odd, since he recorded at least one album for Concord). Every album in the series is worth hearing. The playing is uniformly outstanding, the song selection is always interesting and often adventurous and the "sonics" are excellent. So.... How about Denny Zeitlin's effort?



It's not enough for Mr Zeitlin to be an MD, a practicing psychiatrist, and a teacher. Ohhhh nooooo! In his spare time, he plays piano! And he's not just foolin' around. The guy is a top notch hard bop, post bop player. He's recorded more than 30 albums and I tell you, he's never made a bad record. "Live..." is no exception to this rule. The set includes three original songs, (Mr Zeitlin is a fine composer), a lovely, lyrical version of Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady," some flashing fingers on Coltrane's "Lazy Bird," and half a dozen other standards. This is main stream bop piano at the highest level.



As I said, the sonics are excellent. Concord Records had an outstanding field recording crew and by the time they recorded Mr Zeitlin's album, they were intimately familiar with Maybeck's wonderful acoustics. The piano is right in front of you, clear as the proverbial bell. Close your eyes and you're in the room.

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