Joey Calderazzo may not have achieved the acclaim of some of the pianists of his generation like
Benny Green and
Bill Charlap, but he has consistently created CDs that stand the test of time. These 1995 sessions for Audio Quest feature him leading a variety of different ensembles ranging from trios to octets with potent arrangements by
Bob Belden. Six of the eight tracks are
Calderazzo's compositions, highlighted by the infectious horn lines in his rhythmic "Echoes" and the wistful air of "Last Visit Home." His trio with bassist James Genus and drummer
Clarence Penn are afire in his driving "No One Knows Why I'm Here" and the explosive "ATM."
Belden's setting of
Miles Davis' "Filles de Kilimenjaro" has an exotic air with the addition of guitarist
Fareed Haque and
Charles Pillow's English horn. This is a rewarding disc that deserves to be more widely known. ~ Ken Dryden