Known for his work ranging with the likes of Jeff Beck, Wynton Marsalis and Esperanza Spalding to Dianne Reeves, pianist and composer Ray Angry stretches out and goes solo on this latest, intimate release.
The album focuses on his own works, but Angry taps into his wide and deep roots as well, turning Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight” into a meditative recitative, blending it into “No Space No Time” with Chopinesque elegance. A reading of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” mixes the emotive passion of a Keith Jarrett in the sense that the composition feels like a spontaneous improvisation.
The other 23 pieces have a personal, parlor feel, as “Desiree” brings out soft emotions of hope, “Song For The Ancestors” is a full fisted stridefest of joy harkening to a Harlem rent party, while “In The End We Win” is a pastoral light of lyricism. There are a collection of personal letters of musical notes as well, as “Mother’s Love” is a gleaming touch of impressionistic thanks, “Fatherson” an assertive and emotive conversation, and “Price, Where RU” a Satie-esque search for a long lost inspiration.
There’s also a spiritual side to the canon of material here, as “God’s Grace” feels like a personal plea in the closet with his Maker, and “Outrageous Love” digitally displaying the dynamics of acceptance from the Eternal One. Each song feels like a color of Angry’s soulful kaleidoscope, making you hope he can some day do a tour of this music. WHEW!