Gilad Barkan

“Modulation” (New Step Music)

Israeli-born pianist Gilad Barkan builds his improvisations from equal parts blues and Middle Eastern modes on his debut CD, and the result is a splendid example of how jazz has become an international grammar for musicians. His “Brazilian Suite #2” is borne aloft by a subtle bossa nova beat, and his “Modulation,” as the title indicates, is a restless flurry of harmonic shifts featuring his crisp, single-note bebop piano lines. In trio arrangements featuring bassist Dan Greenspan and drummer Harvey Wirht, the Boston-based pianist’s compositions here stand shoulder-to-shoulder with tunes by Sammy Cahn, Herbie Hancock and Duke Ellington. [ 12/28/03 ]
--- Seth Rogovoy


[an error occurred while processing this directive]