Pianist Aaron Parks’ trio with Ben Street/b and Billy Hart/dr create a deep and rich mosaic of intricate sounds on this collection of originals. Parks has a rich and classical feel to his delivery, and is able to create rich dynamics with Hart’s pulsating high hat on “Adrift,” undulating melodies over the dancing cymbals on “Unravel” or go mano a mano with thunderous drums on the rumbling “Hold Music.” Street brings in various carroms and ricochets as well, bopping along during “The Storyteller” and flowing with romance to Hart’s sashaying brushes and Parks’ sensual musings on “Song for Sashou.” The evocative melodicism on a gracious “First Glance” gives ample support for the depth of communication that is necessary for a project like this to succeed without devolving into a traffic jam. Impressive.
ECM Records