Same Mother

Blue Note's star pianist digs into some blues forms -- the album's title comes from the idea that blues and jazz come from the same mother.

The "blues" part brings out new sides of Moran's music -- Mardi Gras warmth (2), pool-hall cool (5) -- as opposed to the steely hipness of past albums. The addition of a guitarist is another departure for him.

But Moran is still in there. The music is spiced with his usual blend of Greg Osby-like angularity and flutterings of hip-hop influence. And his solos still amaze and delight. Recommended, and you should be listening to his other albums too.

1- Thundering but friendly. Mid/slow but energetic.
2- Big, fun, jumping. Moran shows he can boogie-woogie
3- Quieter, acoustic, gentle
4- Lush cocktail sound, gets faster and stormier
5- Glassy blues, with guitar and some fierce moments
6- Dramatic, vaguely tango-esque. Gets fast and swirling.
7- Gets big and stormy. With slide guitar.
8- Quiet burblings, strange slinky guitar, a bit ominous
9- Grand and studious, a nearly new-age landscape
10- Choppy, aggressive, a bit bluesy, pretty cool