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Some nice coverage for Ehud Asherie “Modern Life” featuring Harry Allen coming from the Step Tempest blog by writer Richard Kamins…..

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Modern Life – Ehud Asherie, featuring Harry Allen

(Posi-Tone Records)

Young Israeli-born pianist Asherie, who’s worked with saxophonists Grant Stewart and his guest here Harry Allen issues his 3rd CD for Posi-Tone and he continues to show why he’s such a fine player. He thinks “melody first” when choosing material, likes to swing, and his solos are usually smartly constructed. Most of the tunes are standards (even fellow pianist Hank Jones’ “Vignette” has been around since 1980) and the 2 originals show a “bop” pedigree.

The rhythm section of bassist Joel Forbes (a New Haven, CT native) and drummer Chuck Riggs give great support (and well-recorded) – listen to their relaxed swing on the pianist’s “One for V” and how they supply the “motor” that drives “The Trolley Song.” They remain calm and quiet underneath the “lead” voices on the Gershwin Brothers’ “He Loves and She Loves” (from “Funny Face”).

Allen continues to mine the styles of Ben Webster, Lester Young and Coelman Hawkins to great effect. He never forces the musical “issue”, playing with a relaxed sense of swing (so playful on “No Moon at All” yet deeply bluesy on Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing”) and, like the pianist, always “on” the melody.

Ehud Asherie is an impressive pianist, not because he plays “tons of notes” – no, there’s an ease, a grace, a melodic presence that informs his playing. “Modern Life” is a gentle, genial, and pleasing program that will have listeners coming back time and again for its fine music. For more information, go to www.posi-tone.com.

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Written by editor

March 25th, 2010 at 11:57 am

Posted in Reviews

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