Ira Stein Trio: Bach Improvisations

Pianist Ira Stein, soprano saxophonist Dann Zinn and cellist Joseph Hebert take a different tack in approaching nine Bach chorales. They “play” with the thematic material, treating it with reverence but not gravity, in a somewhat “new agey” manner. The absence of a drummer contributes to the sense of chamber music-though the contributions of some young Connie Kay would certainly deepen the groove and perhaps sharpen the sense of “jazz” in these interpretations. That said, these are attractive performances, allowing us to hear and savor Bach’s melodic lines in a new light, freed from the frame of counterpoint that is at once their genius and their boundary.

Originally Published April 1, 2000