Hilario Duran
is about the hottest pianist in any given genre, straddling jazz and Latin music, but sporting brilliance reserved for the
Glenn Goulds
,
Eddie Palmieris
McCoy Tyners
, or
Oscar Petersons
of this mortal world. In a trio with renowned bassist
Roberto Occhipinti
and drummer
Mark Kelso
Duran
burns down a whole row of houses on this set of originals and one tune by
Ernesto Lecuona
, with a tribute to his mentor,
Frank Emilio Flynn
. He's not shy on any level, ripping up block chords, single lines, and rhythm changes at will, with no regard whatsoever for safe havens. For
, everything is a fastest fingers question, blurring lines with remarkable cohesion on
"It's Only Seven"
in 7/8 time, turning on a dime at will and often, or using hard-edged block chords for a super-fast
"Motion."
While most of this music pegs the excitement meter, there's one featuring Toronto's
Pandamonium Strings
, no doubt enhanced by
Occhipinti
's classical background, and
"Danza Negra,"
which approaches a childlike melody, from the writings of the immortal
Lecuona
. Then there's
"Tango Moruna,"
distinctly in the ballpark of
Chick Corea
's Spanish melodicism, as well as a more samba-like than Afro-Cuban tone.
's dazzling virtuosity is for listeners seeking to live life to its fullest; he's one of the true genius musicians in modern jazz, with a lot to say and more to come. ~ Michael G. Nastos