Latest CD releases reviewed

JIM HALL
Magic Meeting ArtistShare
****

Hall's first trio album in a decade, recorded last year at the Village Vanguard, finds the guitarist in eloquent, three-way dialogue with like-minded colleagues Drew Gress (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums). His tone has altered over the years, but it's still an expressive vehicle for a beautifully lyrical player who never uses two notes where one will do. Colley and, in particular, Nash, delight in the spaciousness of his playing, and their intense interactions with the leader showcase Hall's imaginative work superbly on such as Skylark, Furnished Flats, Joe Lovano's Blackwell's Message and the witty, dancing, calypso-like St Thomas; the trio even evoke flamenco on Hall's own Canto Neruda. As with Maria Schneider's Grammy-winning Concert In The Garden, the CD is available only on the internet. www.jimhallmusic.com

Ray Comiskey

ANTONIO FARAÒ
Encore CamJazz
****

Faraò, who accompanied Lee Konitz here a few years ago, wrote all the delightful material used on this captivating recording, made with Martin Gjakonovski (bass) and Dejan Terzic (drums), the same trio that backed the late tenor saxophonist, Bob Berg, on Faraò's well-received Far Out, also on CamJazz. He's an exuberant, inventive, marvellously swinging pianist whose range encompasses the delicacy of Sylvie and A Double Life and More, and the sprightly 6/8 dance of the gorgeous Encore; he waltzes elegantly through Three and Japan, and drives relentlessly on the uptempo Dedè. Throughout, there's an infectious joy in his singing, and melodic playing that seems to owe nothing to any obvious influence. No boundaries crossed, but this is a really fine trio. www.CamJazz.com

Ray Comiskey

GABRIELLE GOODMAN
Travellin' Light Winter & Winter
***

A former backing vocalist for Roberta Flack, Goodman made her solo debut in the early 90s with this reissue, on which she had the benefit of some outstanding jazzmen, including guitarists Wolfgang Muthspiel and Kevin Eubanks, tenor/soprano saxophonist Gary Thomas and violinist Mark Feldman. With her rich, full, gospel-tinged voice, she's a capable singer with the equipment to do anything. Subtlety, however, is not a strong point; ballads tend to start with exaggerated softness before being overcooked for the finale. That said, she offers a fine reading of Someone To Watch Over Me and gets a good groove on a rocking bossa, Never Too Late, but tempts fate by doing Billie Holiday's Don't Explain. Thomas and the others remain an asset, though. www.harmoniamundi.com

Ray Comiskey