Better Than Gold And Silver

Reviewed: 2018-10-24
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: The prolific Russian-born, North Carolina-based pianist/composer adds a sacred dimension to the ambitious series of concept albums in her extensive catalogue her new 2-CD set, which is based on psalms from the Bible. The new album includes both vocal and instrumental versions of 10 songs she conceived as works of modern jazz rather than part of the Christian music canon. The music is highly melodic, multilayered, intricately structured jazz that takes full advantage not only of her virtuoso pianism, but also of the distinctive talents of the all-star team of instrumentalists and vocalists. Disc 2 offers completely different instrumental compositions, not merely the music without the vocals.
If You Like: Oregon, Keith Jarrett, Enrico Rava, Eleni Duni
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
DISC 1 - Vocal
1/ Psalm 131 (4:31) – piano starts> slow song> trumpet solo> slow song> fade
*2/ Psalm 119 Teth (5:04) – piano starts> uptempo song> trumpet solo> song> slow fade
3/ Psalm 119 Nun (3:00) – piano starts> slow song swings to midtempo>slows again to fade
*4/ Psalm 110 (7:09) – piano starts> midtempo song> trumpet solo> guitar solo> violin solo> song> quick fade
*5/ Psalm 119 Lamed (5:14) – bass note/vocal start> slow song> piano solo> trumpet solo> song> quick fade on trumpet
6/ Psalm 126 (6:00) – piano starts>slow jam> slow song> trumpet solo> song> slow fade
*7/ Psalm 58 (4:49) – piano starts> piano starts> slow song> quick stop
*8/ Psalm 119 Jod (7:32) – trumpet starts> slow instrumental jam> slow song swings to midtempo> trumpet solo> piano solo> fade
*9/ Psalm 119 Zain (6:14) – piano/vocal starts> slow song> trumpet solo> song> slow fade
10/ Psalm 147 (12:37) – piano starts> slow song> instrumental jam> slow song builds in volume & fades
DISC 2 – instrumental
*11/ Psalm 131 (7:04) – piano starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow jam> slow fade
*12/ Psalm 119 Teth (6:05) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> jam> quick fade
13/ Psalm 119 Nun (6:13) – trumpet starts> slow jam> slow fade
*14/ Psalm 110 (8:43) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> slow fade
15/ Psalm 119 Lamed (6:09) – piano starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow jam> slow fade
*16/ Psalm 126 (6:43) – bass starts> slow jam> bass solo> slow jam> slow fade
*17/ Psalm 58 (7:55) – piano starts> slow jam> guitar solo swings uptempo> uptempo jam mellows to midtempo> fade
18/ Psalm 119 Jod (7:58) – trumpet starts> slow jam> trumpet solo> slow fade
*19/ Psalm 119 Zain (7:52) – trumpet starts> slow jam> piano solo> bass solo> fade solo> fade
*20/ Psalm 147 (13:20) – bass/piano starts> slow jam> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade