For anyone who values the rough ball part sound of an Aaron Diehl or for the Monkian input, which is folded discreetly but significantly into the just released trio album Moments Preserved (Impulse!/Decca Records France) in an awe inspiring medley zoning in completely that catapults Fortner to belong already in the same sentence as Eric Reed, then great. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
Perhaps you remember the very tasteful Oran Etkin Benny Goodman record. The New Orleanian was on that as a starter. Fortner studying jazz attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts as a young man and later as a high flier the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Manhattan School of Music. Fred Hersch who will be appearing at the Cork Jazz Festival this autumn taught Fortner as did Selma composer Jason Moran.
Roy Hargrove’s pianist oh for years Hargrove is lithe and agile in his cameo on the new record, the lead-off track of which is above.
Tracks and lengths:
1 Changing Keys (Wheel Of Fortune Theme) 04:56
2 Pep Talk 04:24
3 Elegy For Clyde Kerr Jr. 05:12
4 Beans And Cornbread 03:47
5 Eyes So Beautiful As Yours 05:02
6 In A Sentimental Mood 03:24
7 Barbara's Strut 03:30
8 Just In Time 02:52
9 New Port 03:50
10 Fantasy 04:33
11 Monk Medley: Monk's Mood / Ask Me Now 04:27
12 The Solid Rock 02:04
13 Phoebe's Samba 04:01
Fortner also has Hargrovian bassist Ameen Saleem, and drummer Jeremy “Bean” Clemons, Brooklyn out of St Louis, with him on the record at its core. Producing is Brian (Liquid Spirit) Bacchus who also was there for the conjuring up of Aria, which was released three years ago.