1. Prospect Park
2. Gotham Soul
3. Leap Of Faith
4. First Light
5. Reluctant Gift
6. Vista
7. The River
8. Faith Remembered
9. Pannonica
Andrew McCormack - Piano
Zack Lober - Bass
Colin Stranahan - Drums
The increasingly impressive British pianist and composer, Andrew McCormack, has already put down several markers as to his talents, in his debut album Telescope, released back in 2007 and its 2012 successor, Live In London, in his work with Jason Yarde particularly but also in
performances with the Kyle Eastwood band, and with Denys Baptiste and Jean Toussaint. Now living in New York for an unspecified period, he'll still be
crossing the pond at regular intervals to tour the UK, for instance, as will be the case this autumn. Recorded in Brooklyn at the end of last year, this
album sees him joined by Zack Lober on bass and Colin Stranahan on drums, two Americans with the proficiency we've come to expect from jazz musicians in
the States.
The music is by way of a reflection on New York City (the cover has a great photograph of the cityscape) but also on the momentous step he has taken in
moving there. Let me say at the onset, this is one heck of a musician. While being very much his own man, there are nods in the direction of the tradition.
For instance, on Gotham Soul, a fairly sombre piece with a distinctly contemplative emphasis, there were echoes of John Lewis for this listener.
Yet if he resembles anyone, it would be Brad Mehldau. Listen especially to Vista, the only tune of his on the album not wholly composed in his
Brooklyn base. The theme is looking forward and it is a sublime piece. The two tracks already mentioned are my favourites, along with a Monk original Pannonica (all the rest of the music on the disc is composed by McCormack). Whereas on Faith Remembered, a brief reverie, his classical
roots are showing, Pannonica really shows the quality of his improvisation. I like the way the three musicians combine throughout. The other two
members of the group are nothing short of excellent. McCormack himself demonstrates not only his skill as a composer but also how versatile a musician he
is. Well worth your attention.
James Poore
CD Reviews
Edition EDN1052
