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Victor Gould: In Our Time

By Mike Jurkovic
September 21, 2021
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Over the course of his first endearing works, 2016's stunning, NPR Debut Of The Year Clockwork (New Fresh Sounds), Earthlings (Criss Cross, 2018) and the lush Thoughts Become Things (Criss Cross, 2019), pianist/composer

Victor Gould

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Gould has exhibited a relaxed romanticism, an unerring lilt to his music. A warm empathy that draws you into the joyful, reflective and quiet moments abounding on In Our Time.

As the sum and advocate of his influences, young Gould not only has a Masters in Music from Loyola University's Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, he was one of the first recipients of Berklee's Herbie Hancock Presidential Scholarship. He has played alongside

Jazzmeia Horn

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Jazzmeia Horn,

Esperanza Spalding

bass
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Esperanza Spalding,

Wallace Roney

trumpet
1960 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Wallace Roney and

Terence Blanchard

trumpet
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Terence Blanchard, and won an ASCAP Young Composers Award.

Having worked with larger musical palettes on previous releases, In Our Time focuses primarily on the resourcefulness of Gould's vibrant trio with bassist

Tamir Shmerling

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tamir Shmerling and drummer

Anwar Marshall

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Anwar Marshall, and dances its way into consciousness with "Blue Lotus." A jazz dance if ever there was, the tune is a graceful, artful confluence of rapport and enthusiasm.

Mentored by the late

Ralph Peterson

drums
1962 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Ralph Peterson and Roney, Gould's music reflects the free precision each teacher swore by. Thus "Lord Wallace" and "Dear Ralph" radiate with life as the trio displays a keen understanding of tight, split-second swing. Shmerling's solo during "Dear Ralph" hops with expectancy and nuance. Saxophonist

Dayna Stephens

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Dayna Stephens brings late-night afterglow to

Gigi Gryce

saxophone
1927 - 1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Gigi Gryce's "Minority" and sass to

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes." Like

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington, Gould is elegant throughout, his solos rousing, injecting tradition and verve, bringing to the fore all we've come to expect from him and then some. Though the closing trio with string quartet, "In Memorium," might be a bit weepy it still luxuriates in itself. The kicker could be the 6/8 title tune, where Gould, Shmerling and Marshall bring it all to bear.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Blue Lotus; Lord Wallace; Dear Ralph; Resilience; Showtime; Queen Alma; Ascension; Infant Eyes; Minority; In Our Time; In Memorium.

Personnel

Victor Gould

piano

Tamir Shmerling

bass

Anwar Marshall

drums

Yoojin Park

violin

Monica Martin

vocals

Erica Gailing

viola

Dale Jeong

cello

Album information

Title: In Our Time | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Blue Room Music

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Grammy Nominated Jazz Pianist Victor Gould

Groupmuse
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