Pianist Marc Cary has earned his credentials gigging with the likes of Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Shirley Horn. Here, he delivers a tribute to another one of his employers, the marvelous Abbey Lincoln, on this solo excursion of material that features material associated with the vocalist. Cary’s got a warm and strong touch, particularly demonstrating a thoughtful left hand, and with his arrangements of material such as “Melancholia” and “Throw It Away,” he creates such musical structures that the words are not even missed. His own “For Moseka” and “Transmutate” are penetrating in their mix of melody and personal expression, while the pastoral “Music is the Magic” takes you on panoramic vistas of sonic canyons and valleys. A warm tribute done with the right hands.
Motema Records