A culmination of influences from an illustrious career spanning 25-plus years,
Departure is the latest studio recording from pianist
Dan Siegel. He brilliantly blends his melodic and rhythmic pop sensibilities with his traditional jazz roots and offers up an amazing acoustic vision of original compositions. This CD is graceful, noble, and reflective, since it transcends categorization as it speaks to earlier times of adult instrumental acoustic music with classic themes that were influenced by the song, its melodies, and its virtuosic musicians. Among
Siegel's invitees are several contemporary jazz greats including
Brian Bromberg,
Vinnie Colaiuta, and
Lenny Castro, with special guest performances by saxophonist
Bob Sheppard, guitarists Norman Brown and
Grant Geissman, and vocalist
Bill Cantos. Produced by
Siegel and
Bromberg, this 11-track offering is ripe with themes that move, groove and appeal to your sense of jazz. The emotionally gripping opening track"Across the Sea" and "Street Talk," which offers the vintage
Siegel sound, defines the true stripped down essence that is
Departure. The exotic string ensemble heard on "Mosaic" serves to enhance the darker emotional piano and saxophone textures. "Castles in the Sand" features
Vince Guaraldi's inimitable influences while "Alone" is a soft-spoken ballad that includes light percussive textures and an irresistible tenderness from saxophonist
Bob Sheppard. Overall,
Departure is organic, in-the-pocket, and should be in your collection of great piano jazz records. ~ Paula Edelstein