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The Billy Lester Trio: Italy 2016
ByLester takes the foundations of a handful of Great American Songbook tunes here, and jumps away with them, the way Konitzespecially new-millennium Lee Konitzdoes. For the most part, the source material in not identifiable. "An Evening with Friends" ("Just Friends") cooks along at medium heat. Lester has could be called a straight ahead guy. But there are points in each tune when he drifts into beautiful freedomthe other side of the coin to the way Cecil Taylor sometimes drifts into beautiful melodicism.
"Yeah Man!" takes as its source "All The Things You Are." Like the music of Bud Powell or Art Tatum, there's a sense with Lester's music of a deep-seated positivity, an affirmation of life. "To Julia" draws nourishment from the classic "Body And Soul." Craggy and angular, Lester's piano has found perfect backing with his Italian compatriots, bassist Marcello Testa and drummer Nicola Stranieri, rock solid foundation layers who allow the pianist the freedom to explore.
Though an under sung veteran player, there's not a lot on record/CD available from Billy Lester at this point. YouTube is another story. Lots of great Lester listening available there. But there is Italy 2016 a top tier piano trio outing with an unusual and original sound.
Track Listing
An Evening With Friends; Yeah Man!; To Julia; Pop Pop Train; Consolidation; Omens.
Personnel
Billy Lester
pianoBilly Lester: piano; Marcello Testa: bass; Nicola Stranieri: drums.
Album information
Title: Italy 2016 | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Ultra Sound Records
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The Billy Lester Trio
CD/LP/Track Review
Dan McClenaghan
Italy 2016
Ultra Sound Records
Billy Lester
Bud Powell
Lenny Tristano
Cecil Taylor
Art Tatum
Marcello Testa
Nicola Stranieri