Search - Bill Anschell :: More to the Ear Than Meets the Eye

Undisovered Treasure

Bill Wood | Vashon Island, WA | 12/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bill Anschell (piano), an Atlantan relocated to the Northwest, is not particularly young or hip or groovy, but he is great. Listen to the way he reworks ballads you thought you had just as soon not hear again and you'll see what I mean: "Night and Day"? Oh, puh-leeze! And you do realize that every time someone plays the likes of "Night and Day" or "Crazy He Calls Me" or "Emily" it becomes just that much harder for the next guy who comes along to find something new to do with it. Anschell surmounts this problem with elan. Surprises abound where you thought there were no surprises left. New tempos, new harmonies - as tangy as caviar and as satisfying as meat loaf. Anschell contributes six originals to the mix to show that he can create as well as he can remodel: "Humble Origins" is particularly effective. Support for the trios is by Jeff Johnson and Doug Miller taking turns on bass and Jose Martinez and John Bishop on drums. Occasional additional flavorings come from Richard Cole on reeds and Thomas Marriott on brass, the latter being perticularly effective on "Humble Origins"."