Stephen M Lee: In The Moment

You can tell that pianist Stephen M. Lee has spent time in the church, as this recent release of his with  bassist Doc Samba and drummer Marcus E. Finnie is filled with soul-stirring originals. Mixing reflecting meditations with Sunday Morning testifying, Lee displays an original touch on the ivories with a relaxed elegance as on the rich “West African” and a soft canter of the left hand on the title pieces. There’s a recitative feel with the rich chords on “Healing Heart” and a patient use of space with Samba and Finnie on the one cover, “What Would I Do If I Could Feel” from the hit musical The Wiz.  He shows he can also get the congregation moving a la Gene Harris on a strutting “Gone But Not Forgotten” and a funky feel with a dry rub backbeat on “Corner of MLK and BB King”. Let’s get this guy on the road and let him preach it!

 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-the-moment/1731316126

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