Gregg Kallor, A Single Noon

Not every jazz-oriented pianist that plays a solo set is going to sound like either Keith Jarrett or Cecil Taylor, thankfully. We of course already have the originals. Gregg Kallor on his solo album A Single Noon (Single Noon 3) sounds like himself, which is essentially expressively tonal and exploratory within that realm. One thing to note, this is a nine-movement suite and though it has the rubato of jazz improvisation sometimes it is a formally composed work. So I could easily have placed it on my classical-modern blog. But after hearing it a number of times I thought it would be of interest to either audience. And here it is more unexpected but related to solo improvisation as practiced today. So here it is.

The work has the each-movement-its-own-logic sort of form to it. None of it is in any way hackneyed, which is important to stress because of course jazz-tonality-composition could quickly cross a border into new age pap. There is nothing of the kind here.

The intricately composed, passionately performed work brings into play some jazz roots (even a hint of boogie woogie) in ways that are appealing.

This is not an end-of-one-world, beginning-of-another sort of work. It's worth your ear time and points to good things to come from Gregg Kallor. I look forward to more. Meanwhile, listen to this and I think you'll enjoy it.