“But does she know all of the State Capitals?” That was a typical father’s response when I heard this amazingly deft and prodigiously talented 11 year old girl’s debut disc. Still at the stage where boys have kooties, pianist Emily Bear displays amazingly impressive talent as both a pianist and composer, and along with Carlitos Del Puerto/b, Francisco Mela/dr and Zuill Bailey/cello, she puts together an album that is as wide ranging in styles as in sounds.
All 13 songs are original compositions, ranging from caliente and snapping “Hot Peppers” and “Salsa Americana” with the trio to the wooing and embracing mood pieces “Italia” and “Tutti Coure” which include Bailey’s yearning cello. All of the songs, while never giving her a lot of space for improvisation, allow her confident and clear touch, joyful swing and strong sense of time to stand out. The crystalline sound of her fingers on the title track is quite impressive, while her solo piece “Q” (named after her famous producer) shows an astonishingly sensitive soul. If this is just the start, what will she sound like once she starts Driver’s Training?!?!?
Concord Records