Kevin Hays Trio - Live At Smalls

A retrospective on 20th century music

     

This trio side exists as an example of the depth of the interpersonal dynamic that can develop within a jazz group over the course of over a decade of steady work. Bill Stewart and Doug Weiss met at William Paterson University nearly 20 years ago, began gigging together regularly, and were soon after recruited by Hays to form this trio. Since then, in between Hays' stints as a sideman with Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Benny Golson, Roy Haynes, and Chris Potter, the group has had an opportunity to nurture a concept that draws heavily on the trio recordings of Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock. Exploring a diverse program, including several of Kevin's originals, as well as arrangements of Hindemith's "Ludus Tonalis," Charlie Parker's "Cheryl," and the popular standards "Sweet and Lovely" and "The Anniversary Waltz" (also known as "Waves of the Danube"), this trio crafts a program that can only be described as a retrospective on 20th century music.