A Light In Darkness

Reviewed: 2018-02-17
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This outing offers a rich outpouring of Reed as composer and orchestrator. Reed is a deft pianist with a graceful touch, & his solos are scattered with references, dropping coy puzzles amidst the swinging solos. He is also a soulful vocalist.
If You Like: McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, Stevie Wonder
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ The Way To Love (2:55) – piano starts> slow song> fade
*2/ Calvary (10:30) – slow piano solo starts> bass solo> midtempo jam> funky piano solo> bass solo> sax solo> midtempo jam slows & builds in intensity> fade
*3/ The Promised Land (4:59) – drums start> uptempo jam> sax solo> spirited piano/sax duet>
uptempo jam> crescendo end
4/ Beauty For Ashes (7:51) – piano solo starts> slow jam> bass solo swings to midtempo> piano solo swings into uptempo jam> slows to midtempo jam & long fade
*5/ Hope In View (3:33) – piano starts> slow song> slow fade
*6/ Shine (3:41) – piano starts slow then starts rocking> uptempo song> quick stop
7/ Garden Of Sorrow (7:41) – electric piano starts> slow jam swings uptempo> electric piano solo builds to lightning fast tempo> uptempo jam> fade
*8/ Yesterday-Yesterdays (5:23) – slow piano solo> fade