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Aaron Goldberg: At The Edge Of The World

By Glenn Astarita
January 27, 2019
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Aaron Goldberg: At The Edge Of The World

One interesting aspect of this recording relates to eminent pianist

Aaron Goldberg

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Goldberg (Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman) reuniting with cutting-edge drummer, Leon Parker in Paris. Back in the 1990s, the artists' connected for a gig, but Goldberg was initially indoctrinated to the drummer's performances with pianists,

Jacky Terrasson

piano
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacky Terrasson,

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau and other notables. But as the press release notes, Parker moved to France in 2001 and took a self-imposed sabbatical from playing. At the peak of his notoriety, he dropped out of the jazz scene, although this album duly rekindles his personalized methodology and keen ability to morph the drums into an improvisational instrument amid loquacious dialogues and trade-offs with Goldberg. Oh, and he's a near flawless timekeeper.

Goldberg has emerged as a major force in modern jazz. He possesses Art Tatum-like speed and dexterity, evidenced by whirling chord progressions and shimmering harmonic block chords while also integrating a light touch and temperance into the more sensitive spots. Hence, the trio launches the festivities with Simon and Bernier's "Poinciana," which was pianist

Ahmad Jamal

piano
1930 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Ahmad Jamal's signature piece. And it's a delightful rendering, complete with Parker's body tapping percussion cadence and wordless vocals that generate a bit of counterpoint to Goldberg's execution of the main theme. But towards the bridge Parker stirs it up via melodic tribal chants as the pianist etches the infectious melody with trickling notes in the upper registers.

The trio performs two of vibraphonist

Bobby Hutcherson

vibraphone
1941 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hutcherson's pieces, "Isn't This My Sound Around Me" and "When You Are Near." On the later, bassist Matt Penman's limber intro and Parker's subtly forceful brushes provide a streamlined pulse to coincide with Goldberg's gently swinging groove and buoyant lyricism: he dances across the keys, abetted by harmonic block chords and a bottom-up, top-down mode of attack. They also cover

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner's "Effendi" with a medium-tempo swing groove and the pianist's gliding and dazzling work, complemented by his reverse-engineering and call and response breaks with Parker, and "Black Orpheus (Manha de Carnaval)" serves as a strong improvisational vehicle as Goldberg reimagines the tuneful hook. Not only is the well-travelled Goldberg at the edge of the world, he's also at the top of his game here.

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Track Listing

Poinciana; Luaty; Isn't This My Sound Around Me; When You Are Near; Effendi; En La Orilla Del Mundo; Black Orpheus (Manha de Carnaval); Tokyo Dream.

Personnel

Aaron Goldberg

piano

Aaron Goldberg: piano; Matt Penman: bass; Leon Parker: drums, vocal percussion & embodirhythm.

Album information

Title: At the Edge of the World | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

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