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Jill McCarron Trio: Gin

By Jack Bowers
April 8, 2024
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Gin, pianist

Jill McCarron

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jill McCarron says of the title of her second recording as leader of the Jill McCarron Trio, refers to the card game of that name, and not to the alcoholic beverage. She balances the joy of winning with the luck of the draw in her entrancing three-part suite. While McCarron leads an admirable threesome (

Paul Gill

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Gill, bass;

Andy Watson

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Andy Watson, drums), this is a trio album with an asterisk, as saxophonist

Vincent Herring

saxophone, alto
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Vincent Herring sits in on four numbers (including the first two) and flugelhornist

Randy Brecker

trumpet
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Brecker and tenor

Ada Rovatti

saxophone, tenor
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Ada Rovatti make it a quintet on

Don Grolnick

piano
1947 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Grolnick's light-hearted frolic, "The Whisperer."

Elsewhere, it is McCarron and her working group sparkling in a delightful program that encompasses jazz originals by

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver,

Kenny Dorham

trumpet
1924 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Dorham,

Gene Harris

piano
1933 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Harris,

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans,

Junior Mance

piano
1928 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Junior Mance,

George Duke

piano
1946 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">George Duke and

Denny Zeitlin

piano
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Denny Zeitlin, and standards by Jerome Kern ("Yesterdays") and Harold Arlen ("My Shining Hour"). Even though her eloquent piano is at the heart of every number, McCarron does not take complete charge until track six,

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans' handsome "Waltz for Debby," which she plays beautifully and all by herself.

"Debby" is followed by "The Gin Suite," whose three movements ("Gin," "Bitters," "Luck of the Draw") are harmonically impressive and melodically irresistible. Herring plays tenor sax on Duke's "Geneva," as he does on "My Shining Hour" (and alto on Silver's "The Jody Grind" and Dorham's "Monaco," which open the session). The trio has its say on Harris' "Blue Bells," "Yesterdays," "Gin Suite," Mance's "Jubilation" and Zeitlin's enchanting finale, "Quiet Now."

Among the album's several highlights, "My Shining Hour" earns first prize, thanks in part to Herring's impassioned solo, with "Waltz for Debby" and "Yesterdays" a close second. On the other hand, nothing here is less than commendable.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Jody Grind; Monaco; Blue Bells; Yesterdays; My Shining Hour; Waltz for Debby; The Gin Suite (Gin/Bitters/Luck of the Draw); Jubilation; Geneva; The Whisperer; Quiet Now.

Personnel

Jill McCarron

piano

Vincent Herring

saxophone, alto

Randy Brecker

trumpet

Paul Gill

bass, acoustic

Andy Watson

drums

Ada Rovatti

saxophone, tenor

Chris Haney

bass, acoustic

Chuck Redd

vibraphone

Album information

Title: Gin | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

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