Intelligent Design

Andy LaVerne's long relationship withSteeplechase has been a fruitful one, with many great recordings and opportunities to showcase his writing as well as experiment with different musical settings. This trio session is a bit unusual as he is joined by organist Gary Versace and drummer Danny Gottlieb, hardly a typical choice of instrumentation for a record date. But Versace was initially a pianist before making the switch to organ, so he never overplays his hand when backing the leader while also proving himself a thoughtful, inventive soloist, too. They work well together and have an instinctive ability to easily exchange the lead seamlessly throughout the date. With Gottlieb providing just the right rhythmic support, the two keyboardists explore nine originals by the prolific LaVerne. "Noteworthy" is an upbeat hard bop vehicle that seems like a throwback to the '60s. The sauntering "Upside" quickly develops into an infectious groove, while "Tsunami" is not the expected turbulent up-tempo piece but instead a dramatic, deliberate composition which keeps a tense mood without providing a release. Finally, "Can Your Glue Do This?" is a post-bop masterpiece that builds to a feverish pitch. A follow-up meeting to this rewarding date seems inevitable. ~ Ken Dryden|