Most pianists opt for the trio format when they want to make their mark, but Frank Woeste takes the road less travelled on his label debut for ACT.
Born in Germany but a longtime resident of Paris, Woeste is as much a composer and arranger as he is a keyboardist, and his choice of two heavyweight Americans – guitarist Ben Monder and drummer Justin Brown – suggests a desire to play outside the box.
His compositions draw on influences as diverse as classical and drum'n'bass, and in the open textures of the leader's various keyboards, Monder's sweeping chords and Brown's electronica- inflected rhythms, there are echoes of Brad Mehldau's Mehliana project.
But taken as a whole, Pocket Rhapsody is the fresh and invigorating sound of a pianist daring to be different.
