Best known for his work as a sideman to the stars and accompanist for scores of singers, pianist Geoffrey Keezer leads his own band, a supergroup of bassist John Patitucci and drummer Clarence Penn, through an exciting set at the iconic Village Vanguard. The evening is brimming over with electricity, with Keezer in complete charge of ideas.
He has a lovely Bill Evansy feel on “Flagships” while putting in dashes of Monk n the playful “Song of the Canopy”. A classical solo intro to “Imp’s Welcome” glides into a deep rumble laid down by Penn, with many of the songs taking on lives of their own, going up and down in drifting dynamics. Patitucci’s electronic bass is spotlighted on the bouncing “Virgo Rising-Cathy” w hile he’s nimble on the playful and Wayne Shorterish “Joy Ryder” with his bowing adding extra romance to “Eternal Child”. Keezer shows his romantic side on a rich sonata’d “Dance Cadaverous” while going deep in the pocket for the post bopper “Highwire”. When’s he hitting LA?