Zeitlin, Denny
MAXJAZZ, 2004, CD
Instrument: Piano
Issue: 10.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Swing
Performance: 4
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Pianist Denny Zeitlin forms a trio with Buster Williams (b) and Matt Wilson (d). The first thoughts conjured up by the title are some sort of electronic fusion. Slickrock is actually a rock that is not slippery but quite tactile and hence the underlying music is straight-ahead jazz by some of the best in the business. There are ten tunes including covers of standards like “You and the Night and the Music” and re-worked versions of “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “It Could Happen to You” that are fresh transformations. There are also originals like the title track that are excellent. We liked the cool blues/gospel feel of “Just Passing By” to wind down. Releases like this are what make the MAXJAZZ piano series sizzle.
