ANDREW McCORMACK - First Light
Edition Records – EDN1052
Andrew McCormack, piano; Zack Lober, bass; Colin Stranahan, drums.
Recorded at Systems Two studio, Brooklyn, New York: December 2013
Andrew McCormack’s “new” album is a delight to hear, always sounding fresh and charming, with a leaning to tradition, but without adherence to any particular style or artist. Even Monk’s Pannonica, the only track not from Andrew’s pen, is a clear, improvisational interpretation based around his own approach and with no dependence in the past. Prospect Park opens the album with a flurry, but swings gloriously and effectively echoes the noise, the commonly expected hubbub and the energy of New York.
The unobtrusive influence of Bop is ever present, but both the melodious text and the romping performance hint at all sorts of fusions of almost imperceptible references, oh so nicely and tidily filed away, but leaving behind a discrete though deeply attractive temperament, gleaming through the music.
Andrew McCormack has presented us with a very fine body of work with a robustly harmonious feel and the trio has offered a confident, fascinating performance through its collaborative, collective interchange.
Andrew will perform a solo piano recital upstairs at Dempsey’s in Cardiff on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
Edition Records – EDN1052
Andrew McCormack, piano; Zack Lober, bass; Colin Stranahan, drums.
Recorded at Systems Two studio, Brooklyn, New York: December 2013
Andrew McCormack’s “new” album is a delight to hear, always sounding fresh and charming, with a leaning to tradition, but without adherence to any particular style or artist. Even Monk’s Pannonica, the only track not from Andrew’s pen, is a clear, improvisational interpretation based around his own approach and with no dependence in the past. Prospect Park opens the album with a flurry, but swings gloriously and effectively echoes the noise, the commonly expected hubbub and the energy of New York.
The unobtrusive influence of Bop is ever present, but both the melodious text and the romping performance hint at all sorts of fusions of almost imperceptible references, oh so nicely and tidily filed away, but leaving behind a discrete though deeply attractive temperament, gleaming through the music.
Andrew McCormack has presented us with a very fine body of work with a robustly harmonious feel and the trio has offered a confident, fascinating performance through its collaborative, collective interchange.
Andrew will perform a solo piano recital upstairs at Dempsey’s in Cardiff on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
