Time Is Now, The

Reviewed: 2018-11-05
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Unsurprisingly, the music flows easily. Hazeltine is a relatively conventional, albeit outstanding pianist who prefers to keep his melodies in check. Six of these songs are self-penned. While all musicians demonstrate superior technique and confidence as a leader, Hazeltine is largely content to keep the arrangements and performances within bounds. No one here needs to strut—the liner notes indicate that it’s his 34th leader session, after all—and the music is better for it
If You Like: Oscar Peterson, Jaki Byard, Wynton Kelly, Geri Allen
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ The Time Is Now (4:38) – piano starts> midtempo jam swings uptempo> crescendo end
2/ The Odd Couple (5:02) – piano starts> slow jam> slow fade
*3/ Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (7:07) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*4/ Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (5:Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 30) – piano starts> midtempo jam dances around> bass solo> drum solo> midtempo jam > crescendo end
5/ Blues For Eddie (6:24) – bass starts> midtempo jam> quick stop
*6/ Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (5:30) – piano starts> slow jam swings to midtempo> slow fade
7/ When I’m Here with You (7:12) – piano starts> slow jam> slow fade
**8/ The Parlayer (6:46) – piano starts> midtempo jam swings uptempo> crescendo end
*9/ In A Sentimental Mood (8:41) – piano starts> slow jam> slow fade
*10/ Muse Of Montgomery (6:44) - piano starts> midtempo jam swings uptempo> fade
11/ Signals (5:48) – drum solo starts> uptempo jam swings to lightning fast> drum solo> uptempo jam> quick fade