Bryn Roberts - Fables (2013)

Born in Canada, pianist Bryn Roberts has enjoyed a prolific career as a session artist since moving to New York City in 2001. Snuggled within a modern mainstream vibe, his persuasive compositions pay homage to melodic content, often complemented by saxophonist Seamus Blake's burly delivery and fluid lines. Nonetheless, many of these works contain quite a bit of bounce and pop, as Roberts is a shrewd technician who knows when to balance power and restraint, alongside a light touch amid his deftly articulated phrasings.

Roberts incorporates two time-honored standards into the track mix within the scope of his impressive original comps. He gives Cole Porter's "In The Still Of The Night" the brisk swing treatment, serving as a good indicator of his sensitivities to song-form and the reimagining of a frequently covered pop tune. Here, the pianist lushly states the melody but doesn't overdo the sugary aspects, all the while dishing out Bill Evans-like single note flurries via tension and release statements and linearly rendered harmonics. Roberts incorporates a few bars of Latin-jazz leading to punchy choruses—where drummer Jonathan Blake peppers and pushes the proceedings—then uses space as a vehicle for the musicians to breathe and regenerate the primary theme. Hence, Roberts sparks an effervescent and freshly envisioned reworking of a piece that has been covered countless times over the years by jazz and pop artists.

Tracklist:

1. Corlear's Hook 7:15
2. Nightsong 8:51
3. Canadian Tuxedo 7:18
4. December 7:46
5. In The Still Of The Night 6:30
6. The Invention Of Writing 5:01
7. Fables 7:46
8. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry 5:52

Personnel:

Bryn Roberts: piano;
Seamus Blake: tenor and soprano saxophones;
Orlando LeFleming: bass;
Jonathan Blake: drums.