LAURA COLE - Enough
Discus 71CD
Laura Cole (piano)
Recorded November 19 & 20, 2017
Laura Cole has waited a long time before making her first solo piano album, and her time and patience has been more than justified in this wonderful recording. It is evident when listening to the two discs that make up this set, that the pianist has put a lot of herself into this project, and we perhaps learn more about her not just musically, but also as an individual as this must be regarded as her most intimate and personal work to date.
This a setting in which there is nowhere to hide, with every note and phrase open to scrutiny, so to choose to make this a double album is another brave move. In doing so, Cole has split the album into two distinct sets, although there is a common thread and musical language that links both. Disc one This Is Water is made up of Laura's arrangements of compositions written by friends and colleagues to which she brings her unique perspective on the music.
The opening title, 'Unisome (Unisin, Unison, Unisone, Unisum)!' is composed by saxophonist Jason Yarde, and is given tremendous workout with a great bass line in the left hand and a melody for the right that are somewhat disjointed that seem to work both independently of each as well as together, with 'Subside' by Julie Tippetts and Martin Archer giving a respite and release from the weight of opening tracks. This mode of expression is furthered with Seth Bennett's 'Alsten' which has a beautiful and slowly developed melody that subsequently appears quite sprightly compared to 'Rendezvous' with the two contrasting pieces complementing each other wonderfully.
In playing these pieces, Cole states a strong case as an interpreter of the music of others, and when tackling two tunes inextricably linked to Miles Davis, 'Nardis' and 'Solar' it must be said that she makes more than a decent fist of these classic pieces.
Disc two, under the title As Warm As The Sun, is perhaps even more revealing in a set of original compositions and improvisations which are drawn from various sources, influences and arts. 'Crossing...' and 'Crossing', and 'Garden...' and 'Garden' are based on the mixed media paintings by Walt Shaw and appear on the albums front and back cover respectively, and paint (musically) in darker shades than one might imagine; while'Enough...' and 'Enough' are for the sculptor Anne Truitt, and are based on her journal, Daybook.
Much of the music on this absorbing set works within a solemn and sombre, even contemplative framework. However, the title track, ' As Warm As The Sun' opens with more than a glimmer of lght and warmth that radiates throughout the entire piece and Cole gravitates towards the piano's lower register. This deployment of the left hand, often taking on the dominant role, is a constant in many of the improvisations, and it is out of these quietly tumultuous bass lines that the pianist carves out her improvisations.
If not always an easy listen it is a most rewarding one, and follows the work of an intrepid and original improviser.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Discus 71CD
Laura Cole (piano)
Recorded November 19 & 20, 2017
Laura Cole has waited a long time before making her first solo piano album, and her time and patience has been more than justified in this wonderful recording. It is evident when listening to the two discs that make up this set, that the pianist has put a lot of herself into this project, and we perhaps learn more about her not just musically, but also as an individual as this must be regarded as her most intimate and personal work to date.
This a setting in which there is nowhere to hide, with every note and phrase open to scrutiny, so to choose to make this a double album is another brave move. In doing so, Cole has split the album into two distinct sets, although there is a common thread and musical language that links both. Disc one This Is Water is made up of Laura's arrangements of compositions written by friends and colleagues to which she brings her unique perspective on the music.
The opening title, 'Unisome (Unisin, Unison, Unisone, Unisum)!' is composed by saxophonist Jason Yarde, and is given tremendous workout with a great bass line in the left hand and a melody for the right that are somewhat disjointed that seem to work both independently of each as well as together, with 'Subside' by Julie Tippetts and Martin Archer giving a respite and release from the weight of opening tracks. This mode of expression is furthered with Seth Bennett's 'Alsten' which has a beautiful and slowly developed melody that subsequently appears quite sprightly compared to 'Rendezvous' with the two contrasting pieces complementing each other wonderfully.
In playing these pieces, Cole states a strong case as an interpreter of the music of others, and when tackling two tunes inextricably linked to Miles Davis, 'Nardis' and 'Solar' it must be said that she makes more than a decent fist of these classic pieces.
Disc two, under the title As Warm As The Sun, is perhaps even more revealing in a set of original compositions and improvisations which are drawn from various sources, influences and arts. 'Crossing...' and 'Crossing', and 'Garden...' and 'Garden' are based on the mixed media paintings by Walt Shaw and appear on the albums front and back cover respectively, and paint (musically) in darker shades than one might imagine; while'Enough...' and 'Enough' are for the sculptor Anne Truitt, and are based on her journal, Daybook.
Much of the music on this absorbing set works within a solemn and sombre, even contemplative framework. However, the title track, ' As Warm As The Sun' opens with more than a glimmer of lght and warmth that radiates throughout the entire piece and Cole gravitates towards the piano's lower register. This deployment of the left hand, often taking on the dominant role, is a constant in many of the improvisations, and it is out of these quietly tumultuous bass lines that the pianist carves out her improvisations.
If not always an easy listen it is a most rewarding one, and follows the work of an intrepid and original improviser.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
