SLAMCD587 Jimmy Bennington & Steve Cohn – Albany Park

Recorded in Chicago, as part of the colour and sound house concert series, ‘Albany Park’, is a duo recording between drummer Jimmy Bennington and pianist Steve Cohn. It’s a follow up to Bennington’s earlier release ‘No Lunch in Hackensack’ (Unseen Rain Records) with New Jersey based jazz veteran Steve Cohn.

Jimmy Bennington: drums
Steve Cohn: piano, vocals, Shakuhachi

“Nothing in music is as communicative as duets. Jimmy Bennington’s drums join with Steve Cohn’s piano, voice and Japanese flute on these impressionistic pieces…the two get expressive on the foreboding “Nepalese Suite” with, some digital dexterity by Cohn mixing with military drumming on an intriguing take of “Blue In Green.” Denny Zeitlin’s “Quiet Now” as some intimate reflections while Cohn strides well and adds atmospheric flute on “A Time When I Get Back To You.” Conversant and cohesive.” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

“The album is a close-knit dialogue between piano and drums, studying new approaches to a variety of interests as broad as Nepalese folk music, Japanese dance and theatre and classical American jazz. This latter sees a new approach to the Miles Davis classic, ‘Blue in Green’…Bennington plays solo drums for about a minute before Cohn enters quietly with the signature leitmotif. The track proceeds and as it reaches completion the notion of modality seems to have been buried. Throughout the concert, Bennington’s drumming seems to be a rejoinder to the squiggling of the piano’s keys though each of them clearly demands as much from the other as they themselves are prepared to give. It is exquisite.” – Ken Cheetham, Jazz Views

“The opening track consists of Cohn playing very quietly and spaciously, with light rattles and vibrations from the kit. The whole sequence progresses with great logic and order, gradually elaborating on specific ideas, gathering energy very slowly and thoughtfully. Cut Down was written (by Cohn) for a dance company in Japan, reflecting his parallel work on the shakuhachi. The title refers to bamboo and the destruction of ancient groves. It’s an oddly moving piece, even as it maintains the record’s enigmatic profile. As well as playing shakuhachi, Cohn also vocalises at points, which adds an air of ritual…the two repertory piece are beautifully reimagined, the Zeitlin tune particularly, though it’s hard to make a sow’s ear out of Blue In Green, which is taken a long way past Bill Evans.” – Brian Morton, Jazz Journal

Recorded April 27, 2013, Chicago.
Mastered at George Belle studios, June 13, 2017, Chicago

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