Michael Kanan, piano; Joel Press, tenor / soprano saxophone; Sean Smith, string bass; and Joe Hunt, drums, created a memorable first set at Smalls jazz club on May 13, 2011.
Happily for us, their sustained creativity lit up the second set as well. The music was easy, thoughful, emotionally intense but never losing its cool.
Monk’s HACKENSACK:
YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO, with Michael’s lovely rubato reading of the verse:
I HEAR A RHAPSODY (which could stand as a title for my postings of this group):
SOPHISTICATED LADY — with a floating duet for tenor and piano:
and the closing RED TOP (in F):
Joel plans to be back in New York City from June 23d through July 7th. And on the 7th, he will be playing duets at Smalls with the excellent pianist Spike Wilner.
The group playing at Small’s on May 13 was superb. Their playing
reflected wonderful imagination. Their rendition of You’d Be So Nice To
Come Home To was beautiful. I look forward to hearing them again.
Pingback: POETIC (The Second Set): MICHAEL KANAN, JOEL PRESS, SEAN SMITH, JOE HUNT (Smalls, May 13, 2011) | Jazz News
Poetic indeed. This is so wonderful! And SOPHISTICATED LADY reminds me of when I heard it for the first time: I was about 5 and a half. Thank you so much.