December 1999

Jeanfrancois Prins
All Around Town
TCB

By Nancy Ann Lee

For his fourth album as leader, Belgian-born guitarist Prins delivers a multi-faceted mixture of 11 standards and originals with bassist Mike Richmond, drummer Adam Nussbaum, and guesting saxophonist Lee Konitz (3 tracks). Prins' plump-toned improvs are technically well-executed, yet he lacks passion and sometimes fails to respond to Nussbaum's spurs. At his best when he slows things down, Prins is exceptionally eloquent and expressive on the graceful ballad "I Fall in Love Too Easily."