The Present

The Present

Track Listings

1. Nardis

2. Little Zochee

3. The Present

4. Day Play

5. Impromptu

6. Fiesta Espagnole

7. Stella By Starlight

8. The Peacocks

9. Lovers Know

10. Big Oscar

11. Perugian Moonlight

Editorial Reviews
from Cadence: The Review of Jazz & Blues: Creative Improvised Music. Volume 23, No 1, January 1997
We hear a lot about interpretation in Jazz. But who better to interpret an original composition that the musician who conceived and wrote it? That's what pianist and composer Alan Simon has done with his latest album. He plays and presents several of his own originals and has invited his various musical colleagues who also contributed tunes to this project to join in playing them as well. Things not only hang together nicely here but nicely flow from tune to tune as well. Much of that is due to Simon's playing and his skillful sequencing of the tracks. The title tune, for example, has a gently melodic feel and is played by a quartet. It's immediately followed by a more intense bop number featuring the guitar and two horns. But the tune opens with the baritone sax laying down long, flowing lines and concludes with Simon's piano solo...which he follows with a solo piano track of his own that leads into a Latin Jazz piece with Simon taking the opening solo, only this tim! e pounding out some Latin piano chords. The album title alludes to the present as in a moment in time. But it's Mr.Simon's skill in presenting the album's music that makes the difference in the time you'll spend listening to it.

Product Description
Whispering Pines Records (WP120649CD) On this CD, Alan brings together some of the most original players on the scene today for a fresh mix of hard-swinging modern jazz, lyrical ballads, and cutting-edge blowing sessions. A number of the tunes are originals by Alan and his sidemen. The musicians also perform some compositional gems by masters like Miles Davis, Jimmy Rowles, and Cedar Walton, along with some choice standards. The format extends from solo piano to trio, quartet, and sextet, showing a wide range of variety in the music's texture and sonic nuance.

The Present

The Present,Alan Simon,Whispering Pines Records,Straight ahead Swinging Jazz with a mix of standards and freshly creative original compositions, played by some of the best musiciains in the New York City area.

Jazz Music: The Present

Jazz Music: