It’s easy to see why jazz legend Ahmad Jamal endorses as well as produces this album by pianist Shahin Novrasli. As he demonstrates on this trio album with veteran drummer Herlin Riley and bassist James Cammack, Novrasli goes against the prevailing current conventional wisdom and emphasizes space, clarity of style over overwhelming sounds. Obi Wan has taught him well.
He does a deep and dark solo rendition of “Memorize” and a pretty “She’s Out of My Life” as well as some wonderful teamings with Cammack on the restraining “Cry of Gulchura” and suavely grooved “Stella By Starlight.” His left hand shows strong digital muscularity on the clear “Both Sides Now” and he fires away with his six shooter with Riley on “Shahin’s Day” and a race to the finish line on the runaway “Salt Peanuts.” Speed and dynamics are used as a means to an end, not an end in themselves, as Novrasli changes them like mixing brushes for a painting. A real joy!