Featured Artist: Alva Nelson

CD Title: Soul Eyes

Year: 2010

Record Label: Independent

Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic

Musicians: Alva Nelson (piano), Harry Anderson, Chris White (bass), Cecil Brooks III (drums), Larry Washington (percussion)

Review: Alva Nelson new album, Soul Eyes is a combination of mostly original compositions with some jazz classics. Nelson is a pianist with great technique equally good playing the fast tunes like Synonymous Dichotomy or the slow ballads like Soul Eyes, Some other time and Song for Keisha.

Gemini Baby has sort of a slow samba feeling, a track with rhythms that invites you to dance. In contrast, Sanctified blues like the title suggests is a classic blues. Both are great compositions, proving Alva's ability to write music in a diversity of styles.

Alva's piano style with his fast melody runs, reminds me at times of the great Art Tatum. But in A la Jarrett, like the title suggest, Alva's piano playing is similar in style to Keith Jarrett music, with that classical music feel.

The album also includes masterful versions of the jazz classics, Body and Soul and Monk Round Midnight.

Tracks: Synonymous Dichotomy, Soul eyes, Gemini baby, Sanctified blues, Body and soul, Sweetcake, Some other time, A la Jarrett, Song for Keisha, Buster’s Bounce, Round Midnight

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre