A local legend in Chicago for decades,
Jodie Christian
is a flexible pianist able to play anything from
bebop
to fairly
free jazz
. On this set he performs six
standards
(including
"Mood Indigo,"
"End of a Love Affair,"
and
"All the Things You Are"
) and four originals. Some of the tunes are taken as unaccompanied piano solos (on
"Blues Holiday"
Christian
also whistles) while the other songs have the pianist supported by bassist
Larry Gray
and drummer
Vincent Davis
.
mostly sticks to the modern mainstream and he sounds quite fine throughout this largely melodic set. ~ Scott Yanow