Search - Cedar Walton :: One Flight Down

Near-brilliant

Jamie Tatro | Columbia, SC United States | 02/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this CD Cedar performs in the standard trio format, with the exception of the first two tunes that feature Vincent Herring. The performances are flawless, and the emotions Cedar elicits will leave you breathless. He plays with a maturity that left me shaking my head in disbelief. He can take the simplest, corniest and cliche-ridden phrase, insert it in just the right place, and make it his own original and refreshing musical idea. He reharmonizes, tweaks rhythms, drops in little two-measure double-time phrases, and convolutes the melody - and yet, he keeps everything accessible. His interpretations push the boundaries of each tune, but he maintains enough structure and predictability to avoid slipping into ego-driven avant-garde land. The recording mix itself is crisp, clear, and balanced; the acoustic bass never sounds muffled or dominated by low-end hum, the drums are sharp and bright like someone snapping their fingers 6 inches from your ear. This is a fabulous CD that I highly, highly recommend."