First, a disclaimer-I was in attendance at the Jazz Bakery (when IS it reopening?!?) when Denny Zeitlin’s trio with Buster Williams/b and Matt Wilson/dr played for a week back in November of 2001. What went through my mind at the show then has come to fruition here, “When is this guy going to put out a ‘live’ album like this gig?” Well, here it is; better late than never.
The evening’s set is mostly ballads, except for a crisply bopping take of “Oleo” that takes you for a white knuckler of a ride. After that, just sit back in your seat and let Zeitlin’s fingers create a balm of chords, patterns and melodic solos on tunes such as “There Will Never Be Another You” or “I’ll Take Romance” and let you drift off into trio heaven. Like his inspiration Bill Evans, Zeitlin is best when he gets melancholic, and he goes into a Blue Period like only French Impressionists on “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and “Spring Is Here.” Images of Marilyn Monroe prancing on the beach come to mind on a luscious “Stairway to the Stars” while Wilson and Williams give empathetic support to Zeitlin’s Astaire like Hayworth and Charisse. This disc is one for the ages.
Sunnyside Records