Essential piano trio
jazz lover since 1960 | Tampa, Fl. and Franklin, NC | 10/31/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When you hear the first track ,"Giant Steps" played by Tete, NHOP and Tootie Heath, you will see why I rank this trio as one of the greatest of all time. Coltrane may have composed and played "Giant Steps", but Tete takes it over, and gives it an excitement and spirit that is unmatched by any piano trio, or any group you have heard. For those who have not heard of Tete Montoliu, he is a blind Spanish painist who plays with unmatched rhythmic drive and harmonic mastery. I assume every jazz fan has heard of Neils-Henning on bass, and the great Albert Tootie Heath on drums. They played together often in Europe. The remainder of the album is equally satisfying. There is another album recorded 2 days earlier called "Catalonian Fire" by the same group, that is equally great. Get them both. See my review."