Now It Can Be Played

John Abercrombie and Andy LaVerne had worked together on a number of occasions with each other, and with bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Jeff Hirschfield, though Now It Can Be Played marked the first occasion for all four musicians to work together on a recording session. The standard "I Wish I Knew" is a sparkling example of their listening to one another, while the influence of the late Bill Evans is obvious in LaVerne's solo. Their setting of "Yesterdays" is a bit unconventional, taking an angular post-pop approach that opens up new possibilities within this decades-old standard. LaVerne contributed several originals, including the intricate "Shadows and Fog" and the exotic "Waltz King." Abercrombie penned the mid-tempo cooker "Labour Day" and "John's Waltz," the latter previously recorded by the composer with LaVerne for their duo CD Natural Living. This is a fine date that is filled with many interesting twists. ~ Ken Dryden|