From Amazon.com
The legendary Chick Corea is a successful talent scout these days, as evidenced by the exceptional young talent he's recording on his Stretch label. Add pianist-bandleader Jason Lindner to Corea's "young lions" roster. A mainstay at the tiny but influential Manhattan club Smalls, this project, produced by Bob Belden, captures Lindner and his cohorts in an energetic big band that brilliantly spans several eras and styles. Lindner's Bud Powell-colored pianisms are buoyed by drummers Daniel Freedman and Jeff Ballard; bassists Omer Vital, Dwayne Burno, and Avishai Cohen; and percussionist Kahlil Kwame Bell. The title track is a peppery, Latin-powered tune, and "Mr. Demargy" is a Gil Evans-inspired number with contrapuntal horn lines laced by the bravura solos of Argentinean trumpeter and flügelhorn player Diego Urcola and trombonist-arranger Avi Lebovich. Lindner's full-bodied, acoustic piano sound echoes on the ballad "Aquarius," while "Mary's Vibe (for Mary Lou Williams)" mixes jazz and rap with MC Bena Merata. "Incantation" is an offering with a Coltrane-esque cosmic swing with Myron Walden's urgent alto sax, contrasted by the mainstream swinger, "U Near Blew!" with Jimmy Greene's "walking the bar" tenor sax shoutout. Jason Lindner's got great chops, a great ear, and a great future.
--Eugene Holley Jr.
