DAVID HAZELTINE TRIO
David Hazeltine, piano; George Mraz, bass & Jason Brown, drums
[JD360]
[ Binaural + CD ]
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1. Clair de Lune 7:40 2. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring 5:15 3. Impromptu No.4 6:16 4. Moonlight Sonata 6:49 5. Waltz of the Flowers 5:06 6. Prelude 8:12 7. Reverie 6:11 8. Fur Elise 7:17 |
Recorded with the Chesky Records Binaural style fit for both speakers and headphones, it captures the sound of the musicians playing in great acoustic settings. And now, starting with the Binaural+ sessions, Chesky records has taken that approach to the next level. The David Hazeltine Trio successfully undertakes well-known classical works and reinvents them through jazz. Joined by George Mraz on bass and Jason Brown on drums, Hazeltine is able to reformat these classics into high energy, sweet swinging, syncopated adaptations of their originals. The group tackles works by composers: Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven; restructuring their works all the while keeping them audibly recognizable.
DAVID HAZELTINE is one of a handful of pianists who has successfully forged his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the accumulated greatness and weight of a modern piano tradition. David's influences extend from Art Tatum and Bud Powell to such great living masters as Buddy Montgomery, Barry Harris and Cedar Walton.
David made his professional debut at age thirteen in Milwaukee, later working extensively in and around Chicago and Minneapolis. In Milwaukee, David served as house pianist at the famed Milwaukee Jazz Gallery and worked with such greats as Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams, and Chet Baker. In fact, it was Baker who encouraged David to make his mark in New York City.
David’s debut album as a leader, Four Flights Up (featuring Slide Hampton) released in 1996 on the Sharp Nine Label, received high praise from critics and musicians alike. Since then, he has recorded seven more CD's for Sharp Nine, the latest being The Inspiration Suite. In Japan, David's six piano trio releases have won him a large and continually growing fan base.
Perhaps David best sums up his feelings about his art and his career: “… the development of the body of music we call jazz is one of the marvels of the 20th century. To contribute to that tradition is all I want to do.”
“David Hazeltine is for sure the brightest star on the jazz piano horizon. His style has a deep-seated commitment to jazz history while communicating a wealth of 'today's ideas. …” - Cedar Walton