The Roland Hanna Trio - Child Of Gemini (1971/2017) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

One of a host of jazz musicians with deep roots in classical music, Roland Hanna graduated from NYC’s prestigious Julliard School of Music and worked with the likes of Charles Mingus, Elvin Jones, Sarah Vaughan and Jim Hall. Although Hanna had originally intended the pieces as a suite for cello and jazz ensemble, trio members American bass maestro Dave Holland, and Swiss drummer Daniel Humair fit in perfectly with the change of plans. Holland had just taken leave from Miles Davis, and Humair was about to go on tour with Oscar Peterson.

Prelude combines Bach and a jazz-rock backbeat, while Hanna states that Allemande and the blues waltz Courrante ‘are the real gems of the Suite’, combining European classical with Afro-American music. Both pieces feature a finely integrated trio with open borders between accompaniment and solo. Written for his Gemini wife, Child of Gemini depicts her ‘changing mood and final resoluteness’. The modal Arsenic and New Lace drives ahead in an impressionistic ¾. The jazzy Ha-Ho Da are the first two letters of each player’s name, and signifies the group unity on this swinging medium-up blues. Outstanding solos by all three. The ballad Blue Lily finds Hanna ruminating on electric keyboard, and for critic/writer J.E. Berendt, A Statement For The Truth ‘notes the climax of the session, the brilliant finale to a suite whose individual movements are lined up in a contrasting, yet seamless row.” Hanna treats his rhythm section as equals; the solos are outstanding, and all three have ample room to stretch.

Sir Roland Hanna's 1971 sessions for MPS pairs the veteran pianist with bassist David Holland and drummer Daniel Humair, focusing exclusively on the leader's originals that were originally intended as a suite, though they stand very well individually, too. The first four selections display the influence of the classical portion of Hanna's studies, especially the Bach-flavored "Prelude-So You'll Know My Name" and the lovely "Courrante-Blue." The lively blues "Ha-Ho-Da" showcases each of the three musicians in turn. Hanna switches to an electric piano (set to sound like a harp) for the ballad "Blue Lilly" and wraps the sessions with "A Statement of the Truth," a complex bop line with a nod to Lennie Tristano. Overall, the music is not quite up to the level of other recordings under Hanna's leadership, though it is still a worthwhile LP. Since MPS ceased operations not long after the 1972 release of this album, it may be somewhat difficult to find.

Tracklist:

01 - Prelude - So You'll Know My Name
02 - Allemande - Dance
03 - Courrante - Blue
04 - Child of Gemini
05 - Arsenic and New Lace
06 - Ha-Ho-Da
07 - Blue Lilly
08 - A Statement for the Truth

All compositions by Roland Hanna.
Produced by Joachim Ernst Berendt. Engineered by Rolf Donner.
Recorded on February 11-12, 1971 at MPS Tonstudio, Villingen, Black Forest, Germany.
Digitally Remastered.

Musicians:
Roland Hanna - piano
Dave Holland - bass
Daniel Humair - drums


Thanks to the Original customer!