Pianist Denny Zeitlin has a marvelous melodic sensitivity that translates well on the romantic renderings of Jule Styne, including the title track and “I Fall in Love Too Easily.” He also offers imaginative renderings of George Gershwin charts, swinging strongly on “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and delivering an unconventional dynamics-filled rendition of “The Man I Love.”
Zeitlin, who has a dual career in psychiatry, is as adept at tenderly exploring Jobim’s lovely “Triste” and handling John Coltrane’s challenging “Cousin Mary” as he is improvising rhapsodically on the theme of “For Heaven’s Sake.” His compositional creativity is demonstrated on two dynamic originals, “Canyon” and “There and Back.” This free-flowing album bears listening to repeatedly to hear the subtle nuances of Zeitlin’s mind and hands.
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