There are musicians who bring a lively spirit to everything they play, and their enthusiasm and musicianship serves to raise the level of whoever they choose to play with. Pianist Kenny Barron is surely one of those very special people, and Concentric Circles by the Kenny Barron Quintet is a good illustration of the phenomenon. With bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake, who played on his 2015 trio album, Book Of Intuition, plus trumpeter Mike Rodriquez and saxophonist Dayna Stephens, the 75-years young Barron has surrounded himself with a group of accomplished younger musicians rising to the occasion of playing alongside a master jazzman. The program features Barron’s original compositions, joined by Caetano Veloso and Cezar Medes’ Aquele frevo axe, Lenny White’s L’s Bop, and Thelonious Monk’s Reflections, which ends the set in a probing solo piano rendition. The elegantly swinging Barron is in top-notch form throughout, whether he’s driving the brisk Von Hangman or snaking his way through the slow-moving In the Dark. A pensive Rodriguez, playing a muted horn, is especially effective on the latter piece. The happy sound of Baile, with its Latin feel, makes it one of my favorites on the disc. On tenor, Stephens is fervent and dramatic, alternating passages with the bouncy sound of Rodriguez’ trumpet before they make way for Barron’s frisky piano solo. To tell the truth, there isn’t a single uninteresting moment on this 66 minute CD, and plenty of supremely attractive passages. Concentric Circles is yet another milestone in the storied career of Kenny Barron, and it is eagerly recommended.
Blue Note B002832502; Mike Rodriquez (tp, flgh) Dayna Stephens (ss, ts) Kenny Barron (p) Kiyoshi Kitagawa (b) Johnathan Blake (d); Brooklyn, NY, March 19-20, 2017; DPW/ Concentric Circles/ Blue Waters/ A Short Journey/ Aquele frevo axe/ Von Hangman/ In the Dark/ Baile/ L's Bop/ I'm Just Sayin'/ Reflections; 66:18. www.bluenote.com
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