Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Laurence Hobgood: When The Heart Dances

Laurence Hobgood: When The Heart Dances

By C. Michael Bailey
July 11, 2009
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Kurt Elling

vocals
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Elling's long-time pianist, Laurence Hobgood, is no stranger to leading a recording session. He has released four previous recordings on Naim Jazz in the last 10 years. He is a durable pianist, a bit of a cross between

Red Garland

piano
1923 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Red Garland and George Winston, with a smidge of

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans thrown in for seasoning. On When the Heart Dances, Hobgood duets with bassist

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden and is joined by Elling on three of the eleven selections.

The jazz duet is enjoying a renaissance. Recent duet recordings include

Eddie Daniels

clarinet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Daniels and

Roger Kellaway

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Roger Kellaway's A Duet of One (IPO Recordings, 2009) and

Bill Anschell

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Anschell and

Brent Jensen

saxophone, alto
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Brent Jensen's We Couldn't Agree More (Origin Records, 2009). The format provides the most intimate of environments in which to play. The pairing of Hobgood and Haden is an inspired one. The two have a synergy that is oak-organic and diamond hard.

The Doris Day ditty "Que Sera Sera" gets Hobgood's attention and is turned into a deep improvisation where the melody is almost nowhere to be found, like

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker's famous "Embraceable You." Haden's bass is unadorned, notes chosen and played impeccably. Each note Haden plays carries the DNA of jazz from

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz (Atlantic, 1961) to Quartet West. Haden is beyond flash; he is about distillation of tone and ideas.

Hobgood shows his entire hand on the solo original "Sanctuary." Here, instead of improvising from a standard or jazz composition, Hobgood creates an American palette that is a cross between piano gospel and New Age. Elements of these are present in all pieces but are fully realized here. The Elling recitals—"First Song," "Stairway to the Stars" and "Daydream"—receive a subdued treatment from Elling, who sings them straight with his deep, resonant voice. There is little fault with this quirky, beautiful recording that is delightfully off the beaten path.

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Track Listing

Que Sera Sera; When The Heart Dances; First Song; Sanctuary; Chickoree; Stairway To The Stars; New Orleans; Why Did I Choose You; Leatherwood; Daydream; The Cost of Living.

Personnel

Laurence Hobgood

piano

Laurence Hobgood: piano; Charlie Haden: double-bass; Kurt Elling: vocals.

Album information

Title: When The Heart Dances | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Naim Label

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