Hilarie Grey
Hilarie’s Contributions
June 2002 Currents
Finding Paradise
David Lanz
Avoiding niches, pianist David Lanz asserts his personality through versatility on Finding Paradise. From the pop-stylish hooks and rolls of "Walk on Water" to the darker downward spirals of "Dorado," Lanz uses his instrument as a paint box to support memorable...
June 2002 Albums
Sensual
Roberto Perera
Known for his pioneering work with the Paraguayan harp, Roberto Perera puts those lithe, brassy tones in little radio-ready boxes on Sensual. Though Perera utilizes exotic rhythm patterns and much organic instrumentation to highlight his work, these intentions...
June 2002 Currents
Turning Point
Jim Adkins
In the warm-toned, upbeat tradition of his Positive Music labelmates lies guitarist Jim Adkins, whose gentle-glide guitar work on Turning Point makes for some sweet easy listening, but not an original journey. The Richmond, Va.-based guitarist plays in sunny...
June 2002 Currents
It's Midnite
Dunn Pearson, Jr.
A truly solid one-man musical effort is hard to find. As composer, producer, keyboardist/programmer and president/CEO of his own company, Dunn Pearson Jr. does it all-with the help of a few guest appearances-on It's Midnite and the results are mostly cold...
June 2002 Currents
We Are Not Machines
Bradley Parker-Sparrow
As the score for a film (Watch) whose subject matter is described as "people living on the edge," We Are Not Machines sets what one would imagine to be an appropriate tone: eerie, foreboding and even disturbing. The work of composer Bradley Parker-Sparrow...
May 2002 Currents
No Strings Attached
Michael Kaeshammer
Audiences went wild for Harry Connick Jr.'s piano swingings in the early '90s, with the coming of the still-popular When Harry Met Sally... movie soundtrack. If there's any justice in the music world, the next gifted retro-pianist, Michael Kaeshammer, will...
May 2002 Currents
Wide Open Spaces
Morgan Bouldin
Another inventive keyboardist, Texan Morgan Bouldin, offers a nexus of styles-from tribal to jazz to modern funk, tracing Afro history and influence in music and story, on Wide Open Spaces (HSR 10022; 59:34). Bouldin draws on his musical vocabulary to build...
May 2002 Currents
Opaque
Pekka Pylkkanen's Tube Factory
An appropriately haunted atmosphere permeates Opaque (Naxos 86068-2; 54:55), the elegantly crafted release from Pekka Pylkkanen's Tube Factory, which calls for repeat listenings to unwrap its many layers. The Finnish wind specialist Pylkkanen leads a tight...
May 2002 Currents
Rendezvous
Walter Beasley
On Rendezvous (Shanachie 5086; 41:59), saxophonist Walter Beasley offers a rarity-a contemporary jazz/R&B genre album that is both romantic and accomplished, resisting the instrumental padding and cliches that mire so many decent soloists in sap. Beasley...
May 2002 Currents
This is Regina
Regina Belle
Presumably in an effort to "modernize" her proven musical chops, Regina Belle has been saddled with some truly silly lyrics and hyped-up funk settings on This Is Regina (Peak PKD-8505-2; 51:51). The venerable Belle, who boasts a pure, growl-to-soar elastic...
May 2002 Currents
Bamboo
Kazu Matsui
An artful, atmospheric work that is more accessible than you might think, Kazu Matsui's Bamboo (Narada 70876-15375-2-9; 47:07) offers musical perspective on the ancient traditions of his shakuhachi flute through memorable melodies and absorbing atmospheres...
May 2002 Currents
Stay With It
Rob Ryndak
Rob Ryndak's Stay With It (Southport S-SSD 0070; 44:12) is meditative in its glowing, comforting arrangements and ultimately uplifting in execution and theme. The pianist/composer executes his leads in a fleet, soft style, from the lightly stroked sparkling...
May 2002 Currents
Looking Beyond
Patricia Moon
A more running melodic approach to the piano propels Patricia Moon's Looking Beyond (Love and Laughter LLMCD-213; 55:21), which is filled with lively pop-cinema melodies. Composer Moon likes to support theme with arrangement-the rhythmic tension and fast...
May 2002 Currents
Barcodes
Synergy
User-friendly fusion might be an apt description for the sly, technically breathtaking work of the quartet Synergy. The band's Barcodes (Synergy SYN-001-2; 51:47) showcases off-balance, tricky rhythms to keep listeners guessing on tunes like the hard-hitting...
May 2002 Currents
Unwrapped, Vol. 1
Various Artists
A frequent device in hip-hop is to sample hooks from pop and classic jazz. The intriguing idea behind Unwrapped, Volume 1 (Hidden Beach EK 85653; 61:53) is to turn the tables and "borrow back," by having a group of creative jazz artists take a turn at stretching...
March 2002 Currents
Fuzzy Logic
David Benoit
One of the nicest surprises of this young year is a departure for one of the most established names in contemporary jazz. On his 22nd album, esteemed keyboardist David Benoit applies Fuzzy Logic (GRP/Verve 314589079-2) and takes a left turn away from his...
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