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Sounds of Timeless Jazz reviews Orrin Evans “Flip the Script”…

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Flip The Script
Orrin Evans

Pianist Orrin Evans’ Flip the Scriptis a confident display of his trio’s musical interplay that features bassist Ben Wolfe and drummer Donald Edwards on ten great tracks. This straight-ahead session offers some daring swing, audacious hard-bop, and forward-thinking avant-garde improvisations in an evocative program.  The recording includes six of Evans’ original compositions and four unique covers including “Question,” by the GRAMMYAward-winning bassist/composer Eric Revis, Luther Vandross’ “Brand New Day,” (from the Broadway musical The Wiz), “Someday My Prince Will Come,” and Gamble/Huff’s “The Sound of Philadelphia.”

The set opens with Eric Revis’ “Question,” a  composition that references several elements of Thelonious Monk’s work but is a priceless vehicle for Evans’ creative piano chops. This set really burns and sets the tone for the entire recording. Next the trio finds more creativity in Evans’ own “Clean House” in which they mine their souls for more stunning straight-ahead success.  “Flip The Script” is a daring work of genius that reveals Evans’ self-assured piano playing and compositional integrity. It is an example of what today’s jazz pianists should strive for when attempting  to connect with their audiences. This piece is brilliant. By contrast, the quiet simplicity of “When” shows Evans’ introspective side and is a thing of pure beauty.

The transcription of “Brand New Day” has a free-spirited, joyful arrangement for piano while Evans’ unique and refreshing cover of “Someday My Prince Will Come” has an abundance of exploratory highlights that help to redefine his version. Overall, this recording is among Orrin Evans’ best work and should be in your jazz collection right alongside other great piano trios. Buy Flip The Script today.

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Written by editor

May 16th, 2012 at 8:46 am

Posted in Reviews

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