Gilman, Joe
Capri, 2008, CD
Instrument: Piano
Issue: 14.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
Performance: 3
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Pianist Joe Gilman teams up with Joe Sanders (b) and Justin Brown (d) to tackle some of the genius of Stevie Wonder. Joe’s arrangements are very jazzy while retaining Stevie’s recipes and adding some excellent improvisation. That creativity comes from all three musicians especially on “Cryin’ Through The Night”. We also liked “Whereabouts”. We wish he’d done more of our favorite Wonder hits but Stevie has so many hits, satisfying everyone will always be a challenge. The approach is solid and execution flawless. Gilman succeeds in marrying R&B with traditional jazz in a way that appeals to a wide audience.
Publicist: Braithwaite & Katz