By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Books on Tape Vol. 1
This is the debut album from
31-year-old pianist/composer Craig Hartley, although he’s well known around the
New York City area. He’s another highly educated musician, having attended
the Manhattan School of Music, New York’s New School, and Hartt Music School,
in Hartford, Connecticut. He has worked with many of the well known Big Apple
artists, and has performed in most of the city’s jazz clubs.
All but one of the tunes on
this release are Hartley compositions; the one exception is “My Foolish Heart.”
Aside from a couple of up-tempo swingers, the majority of the melodies are done
at medium and balladic meters. His style evokes Bill Evans and Chick
Corea, and it’s interesting to note that Hartley himself (on his own website)
identifies his genre as classical, rather than jazz. That
said, the first track here is a spirited and swinging tune he calls “Dial 411” ... and if
that isn’t true jazz, I don’t know what is.
Liner notes provide
background comments for each of the nine tunes.
Hartley and the other two
members of his trio are excellent musicians: Bassist Carlo De Rosa is stunning
on his instrument, and drummer Henry Cole is extremely tasty. Trumpeter
Fabio Morgera, featured on two tracks, also is first-class.
Unfortunately, the same
cannot be said of the audio mixing and mastering. On several tracks, the volume
of Hartley’s left hand overwhelms that of his right; this is particularly
evident at slower tempos, and it tends to mask his marvelous melodic lines and
solo work.
Hartley and his
group are a force to be reckoned with, and their future looks bright.
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