Joey Calderazzo/Jeff Watts/Sylvai Gagnon - Simply Music (CD)

All Music Guide

Joey Calderazzo is an excellent modern mainstream pianist who is a little reminiscent of early Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and McCoy Tyner, but essentially has found his own voice in the genre. For this release from the Montreal label Lost Chart, Calderazzo teams up with the reliable drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and bassist Sylvain Gagnon, a Canadian who has spent much time in France. Gagnon, a virtuoso who contributed the driving "Odyssee" and "Take Off Your Blues," has no difficulty keeping up with the other, better-known players, and he takes several assured solos. The trio is tight, communicating quite well with each other; they perform three jazz standards and five originals, and although not breaking any new ground, they are in fine form for this effort. Their treatments of Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil," a romantic "The More I See You" and a modal reworking of "It's You Or No One" are highlights.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide