Album Review: Being from Chris Rottmayer
Album: Being Artist: Chris Rottmayer Label: Shifting Paradigm Website: chrisrottmayer.com Being , the fourth release from pianist and leader Chris Rottmayer, is a compilation of original music, written by Rottmayer as part of a study of jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller and his recordings with the Woody Shaw Quintet. With that in mind, the music has a statuesque hard bop parlance reminiscent of McCoy Tyner and an intimate jazz club flare reflective of Art Tatum. Five compositions are reflections of the city of Paris, France, such as “Pigalle," which is driven by a slow strutting bass line played by Rufus Reid as Rottmayer's keys drizzle gently across the smooth melodic soundscape. The tune leaves the listener with an impression of the famous former red-light district of Pigalle, renown for its dancehalls and venues of entertainment, as being relaxing and peaceful. “Châtelet,” another impression of Paris, projects the bustling activity around the Pari...