Andy Laverne is a hard person to hate. His passion for jazz borders on the pathological as evidenced by the laptop he lugs around with hundreds of his compositions ensconced on the hard drive. His Steeplechase discography alone dwarfs that of many of his peers on the piano. Gary Versace, a pianist turned organist, is comes from a similar personality mold. His command of his adopted instrument is uncanny in its completeness. Outwardly, both men echo the stereotype of the typical post-Evans player: Caucasian, bookish in appearance and possessing formidable chops, if an occasional propensity for following the path of least resistance. Inwardly, there’s a lot more going on, as this trio date, their second for Steeplechase, conclusively demonstrates. Their earlier session was an even mix of standards and originals while this one adds to the ante by focusing solely on selections from Laverne’s laptop.
One of the primary dangers in any keyboard duo is the possibility of unintentional harmonic collisions between the participants. In the wrong hands, it can be like a bumpkin dancing two-step to his partner’s tango. Laverne and Versace are cognizant of this vulnerability without being overly cautious. The presence of a single sideman, drummer Danny Gottlieb, helps considerably in this regard, reducing potential clutter and tastefully engaging the keyboardists together and in isolation. Up-tempo and swing-loaded, “Noteworthy” is a nice case study in this sort of shrewd equilibrium. Laverne and Versace jockey easily between lead and support roles, shaping brief alternating solos as Gottlieb devises a resilient fluctuating rhythm. The tonal slipperiness and harmonic versatility of Versace’s keys allows him the added advantage of gliding between his partner’s tempered notes while simultaneously constructing gap filling bass lines. He also adds an array of pithy ornamental effects from cresting tonal swells to efflorescent sustains. Ballads like “Ultra Sound” and “Remembrance” err a bit too liberally on the syrupy side, but on the more animated numbers, the pair generates a fair bit of heat. Contrary to the egghead connotations of the disc’s title, these two also know how to let their figurative hair down and keep things limber and loose.
[Steeplechase titles are available directly through Stateside Distributors: Stateside AT prodigy.net]
~ Derek Taylor
Posted by derek on May 10, 2007 4:01 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................