Marc Copland joins forces with a trio of fellow seasoned veterans, including guitarist
John Abercrombie, bassist
Drew Gress, and drummer
Billy Hart for this 2007 studio session. The chemistry between the four men is apparent from the very beginning. The pianist's introspective ballad "Like You" is a complex affair, frequently showing the influence of
Bill Evans in his lyrical ideas, though
Copland's dark interwoven lines take in him other directions as well. Another of his works, "Another Place," has an eerie air in a somewhat breezy setting.
Abercrombie's "River Bend" opens with a slow but tense air, a feeling that never entirely dissipates even as the tempo picks up considerably.
Gress' "Dark Horse" is an introspective miniature with a brief solo by its composer, though the focus is more on the ensemble. The sole standard is a soft but swinging take of
Cole Porter's "Everything I Love." This delightful outing is one of
Marc Copland's finest dates as a leader. ~ Ken Dryden