Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Ethan Iverson - The Purity of the Turf (2016) CRISS CROSS RECORDS




The Purity of the Turf is kind of a "bucket list" moment for Ethan Iverson, who has always wanted to make a record with famous bassist Ron Carter.

Iverson, pianist of the famous trio "The Bad Plus", chose drummer Nasheet Waits to fill out the trio, because Waits represents the avant-garde as well as swing.

Criss Cross records are level playing field, with everyone recording in the same studio in a single day: Thus the sporting title, "The Purity of the Turf".

The repertoire is mostly originals and jazz classics. A surprise highlight is the solo piano tribute to the late Paul Bley, "So Hard it Hurts" by Annette Peacock.

01. The Purity Of The Turf (Ethan Iverson)  4:31
02. Song For My Father (Horace Silver)  5:19
03. Darn That Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen / Edgar DeLange)  4:43
04. Along Came Betty (Benny Golson)  5:45
05. Graduation Day (Ethan Iverson)  3:33
06. Confirmation (Charlie Parker)  6:14
07. Kush (Nasheet Waits)  5:35
08. Sent For You Yesterday (Count Basie / Eddie Durham)  4:55
09. Strange Serenade (Andrew Hill)  4:23
10. Little Waltz (Ron Carter)  5:01
11. Einbahnstrasse (Ron Carter)  5:10
12. So Hard It Hurts (Annette Peacock)  3:18

Ethan Iverson, piano
Ron Carter, bass
Nasheet Waits, drums