Kevin Hays - Andalucia (1997)

Kevin Hays was already comfortable in the big leagues by the time he recorded Andalucia, his third album for Blue Note. But the fact that this outing featured the young pianist in a trio setting with bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jack DeJohnette turned heads nonetheless. Hays more than holds his own in the company of these two giants, and he's not a chops player, so his strong showing is all the more impressive. His rhythmic and harmonic ingenuity generates well-paced excitement throughout the set. Half the tunes are non-originals, and they include the standard "That's All," Ernesto Lecuona's "Andalucia (The Breeze and I)," Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma," and Ron Carter's "Einbahnstrasse." There's also an inventive reworking of the Beatles' "And I Love Her." But the five originals do more to reveal the full depth of Hays' musicality. "Agua," a driving boogaloo tune, kicks off the record. The other four are clustered consecutively in the middle of the program: first the calmly flowing "Mind," then the swinging Chick Corea tribute "Chickory Stick," the amorphous Billy Hart tribute "Hart," and the vigorous abstraction "Break." No matter what he's playing, Hays' soulful, uncluttered, unassuming style sets him apart among talented young jazz pianists. ~ by David R. Adler, AMG.

Blue Note, CDP 7243 8 55817 2 4, 1997

Recorded 21^st-22^nd December, 1996 At Clinton Recording Studio, New York

Musicians:

Kevin Hays - Piano

Ron Carter - Bass

Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Tracks:

01. Aqua {Kevin Hays} (5:11)

02. Andalucia [The Breeze And I] {Ernesto Lecuona} (4:28)

03. And I Love Her {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (6:20)

04. That's All {Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes} (8:48)

05. Mind {Kevin Hays} (4:59)

06. Chickery Stick {Kevin Hays} (5:52)

07. Hart {Kevin Hays} (3:25)

08. Break {Kevin Hays} (4:35)

09. Einbahnstrasse {Ron Carter} (6:22)

10. Con Alma {Dizzy Gillespie} (5:34)

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Bob Belden

Engineer - James Farber

Mastering - Mark Wilder

Art Direction - Darey Cloutier

Design - Brigid Pearson

Photography - Chuck Stewart, Jules Allen

Total Time: 55:35