You Me & I

In today's jazz world, there is a superabundance of gifted young performers. It's now not uncommon for a young musician to have made his or her first commercial recordings while still in school. So for a seasoned, first-rate pianist to wait until his mid-forties to release his first CD is an anomaly worthy of attention. Introducing Carlton Holmes (b. 1964), who has waited until now to put his own project before the public. That isn't to say, however, that he's been in hiding; actually, he's been a heavy-hitter on the New York City jazz scene for two decades. He's had extended playing associations with veteran drummers Charli Persip, Michael Carvin, and Cindy Blackman, along with gigs with many other notables. (For several years, he filled the demanding piano chair with my Nonet.) As you'll hear, if you already haven't, Carlton's playing is one of life's subtler pleasures. He has technique to spare, but he never beats the listener over the head with it. His harmonic choices are gorgeous, and he always LISTENS-and swings. His music is for the head AND heart. Along with two distinguished cohorts, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Donald Edwards, Carlton has constructed a varied and unhackneyed program of music. We hear a quasi-standard immortalized by singer-pianist Shirley Horn, five underheralded works by jazz composers J.D. Allen, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, and (I'm happy to note) yours truly, and a half-dozen of his own engaging originals. All twelve tracks are uniformly appealing, and unlike many CDs, this one is easy to listen to in one sitting. So Carlton Holmes, gentle and modest soul but major talent that he is, has waited until his forties to record as a leader. If there's any justice, his next recording will arrive much sooner. -Bill Kirchner March 2010 (Bill Kirchner is a saxophonist, composer-arranger, bandleader, jazz historian, record and radio producer, and educator.)