Adam Benjamin
's debut recording is a wide-ranging affair that displays a flair for uncovering new paths to familiar songs along with pieces not commonly heard in a solo piano jazz setting. Beginning with a tense, inventive chart of
John Coltrane
's
"Giant Steps,"
Benjamin
makes clear that he is not interested in following the expected path. His jaunty, quasi-boogie treatment of
"Willow Weep for Me"
has its share of wild chord substitutions, while he disguises the introduction to
Thelonious Monk
"Ask Me Now"
with an inventive reworking of its theme. His thumping bassline in
Ornette Coleman
"Broadway Blues"
recalls
Jaki Byard
"New Orleans Strut."
Even rocker
Brian Wilson
"Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)"
is successfully transformed into a magical jazz ballad, though the British pop band
Tears for Fears
'
"Head Over Heels"
is hampered by a monotonous theme and excessive electronic effects.
saves his sole original,
"Long Gone,"
for the end of the disc, starting it as a piano solo and gradually overdubbing electronic effects for a striking finale. ~ Ken Dryden