If you're like me, you probably grow frustrated when you run out of early recordings by pianists such as Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, Gene Harris and Les McCann. You know, pianists who listened to themselves as they played and loved more than anything to swing gently and move souls. These pianists had a healthy respect for space, they loved single-note improvised lines, they didn't rush songs along and they avoided jamming in as many notes as possible. Block chords were as tightly packed as they'd go, and they'd add them in just the right places, usually for textured contrast, after a period of single-note lines. [Photo above of Joe Alterman by Lisa Piernot]
Pianist Joe Alterman to the rescue. Joe, who recently relocated from New York to Atlanta, just released a new album, Comin' Home to You, that has all of the ear candy I mention above. It's hard to express exactly what Joe is doing to capture your attention, but much of it relies on taste, technique, a healthy respect for lyricism, a strong sense of what exactly made past piano greats special and his own gentle personality. On the album, Joe works in the trio format with bassist Nathaniel Schroeder and drummer Doug Hirlinger on some tracks and bassist Scott Glazer and drummer Justin Chesarek on the others.
Joe's song choices are interesting, all the more so when given a Moodsville feel. Tracks include I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Nina Never Knew, Les McCann's Fish This Week, Carole King and Gerry Goffin's Take Good Care of My Baby, Daryl Hall and John Oates' Sara Smile, and Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely. Joe's two originals—Comin' Home to You and The Last Time I Saw You—are exceptional. He's a gorgeous songwriter. [Photo above of Joe Alterman with Ramsey Lewis]
This is one of those albums you put on and listen to repeatedly. You can't help it. It's inspiring music from an artist who hasn't forsaken jazz's roots but has brought it along into modernity. Festivals from Newport and Monterey to Rio and Nice should try to book Joe while they still can afford him. A most impressive album and a must own. [Photo above of Joe Alterman with Houston Person]
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Joe Alterman's Comin' Home to You here...
JazzWax clip: Here's Nina Never Knew, which will give you a sense of how the rest of this album sounds. Perfect for thinking, creating and just watching pop in the fireplace...
