October 2009

David Berkman Quartet
Live at Smoke
Challenge Records

By Bill Milkowski

This excellent disc documents David Berkman’s quartet with saxophonist Jimmy Greene, bassist Ed Howard and drummer Ted Poor at the intimate Upper West Side haven for New York’s straightahead set. While the reliably swinging pianist and accomplished composer might be bending the rules a bit on the club’s criterion, particularly on the ominous groover “The Mayor of Smoke” and “Carroll Street Pop Tune,” pieces like “Weird Knack,” “Hidden Fondness” (based on “Secret Love”) and his tasty cover of Benny Golson’s “Along Came Betty” fit right in.