Like John Serry's Enchantress, Ivan Paduart's
Belgian Suites is a pleasing example of acoustic-oriented jazz that isn't oblivious to what's going on in the electric jazz realm. Essentially, this optimistic, congenial post-bop date falls into the straight-ahead category -- Belgium's
Ivan Paduart plays mostly acoustic piano, and he has all-acoustic accompaniment in tenor saxman
Bob Malach (a
Michael Brecker admirer), upright bassist Hein Van de Geyn and drummer Hans Van Oosterhout. But
Paduart plays some electric keyboards as well, and melodic originals like "Between Heaven and Earth," "Can't Wait" and "Sherry on a Cake" aren't without subtle pop-jazz overtones.
Paduart doesn't incorporate pop-jazz in an overt way, and he isn't trying to turn this quartet into Chick Corea's Elektric Band. Recorded in Brussels in early 1998,
Belgian Suites isn't outstanding but is generally charming and likable. ~ Alex Henderson