Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Evgeny Sivtsov: Zoo

Evgeny Sivtsov: Zoo

By Don Phipps
November 21, 2019
View read count

On Zoo, composer and pianist Evgeny Sivtsov reimagines and contrasts jazz styles in a clever and skillful manner. Sivtsov sounds like a cross between

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk,

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell, or even

" data-original-title="" title="">Lennie Tristano—not just in his technique, but in his attack as well. This makes for piano playing that, depending upon the number, is at times robust or subdued, but always steeped in the jazz tradition. On his six original compositions, he's joined by bassist Dan Chmielinski and drummer Shawn Baltazor. The rhythm section brings its own tradition, especially on the opening number "Zoo"—sounding a lot like the rhythm section of

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman's quartet circa late 50s-early 60s, with Chmielinski as

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden and Baltazor as

Billy Higgins

drums
1936 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Higgins/

Ed Blackwell

drums
1929 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Blackwell.

As a pianist, Sivtsov keep things interesting with deft interplay between the right and left hand. He seems at ease with different jazz styles: bebop, hard bop, blues and even a bit of vaudeville (towards the end of "Happy Hippos"). His number "Post-Wild" covers the most territory. It begins with a late-night romantic intro that could lead to a

Joe Williams

vocals
1918 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Williams or

Tony Bennett

vocals
1926 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Bennett vocal but migrates into confident and joyful playing replete with bluesy triplets as he slips and slides up and down the keys. Baltazor's drumming provides a substantial floor to the tune with a mix of relaxed forcefulness and carefully timed emphasis.

"Dragonflysis" is an upbeat number that gives the rhythm section some room to maneuver. Take Chmielinski's spirited walk on the bass or Baltazor's solo, which dances across the trap set like a dragonfly on a mission. "The Death Of The Last Dragon" is a bluesy lament. The slow waltz rhythm is emphasized in Sivtsov's precise and clean attacks; he stops, stutters, and accelerates with well-placed syncopated runs and riffs, and he uses full left-hand chords while walking his right hand up and down the piano. Meanwhile, Chmielinski's solo has a gravitas that exploits his dark, woody sound.

Unfortunately, Zoo suffers from a muddy mix that muffles much of Chmielinski's work on the album. This flaw is not ruinous, but it cannot be overlooked. That said, the album and Sivtsov's hybrid amalgamation of 50s and 60s jazz styles is an appealing if not perfectly recorded exploration.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Zoo; Happy Hippo; Post-Wild; New Anthill; Dragonflysis; The Death Of The Last Dinosaur.

Personnel

Evgeny Sivtsov

piano

Dan Chmielinski

bass

Shawn Baltazor

drums

Evgeny Sivtsov: piano; Dan Chmielinski: bass; Shawn Baltazor: drums.

Album information

Title: Zoo | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Rainy Days Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Women of Jazz, New Releases, and a l...
< Previous

The Omni-American Book Club / My Jou...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.