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RESONANCE
(Bop City)
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To judge by the CD-cover portrait, 19-year-old Taylor Eigsti seems set on becoming the next Justin Timberlake rather than following the path of McCoy Tyner, which he does admirably on this album’s 11 pieces. Eigsti is a Southern California jazz-piano whirlwind with a light touch, a fluid sense of improvisation, and a gift for wrapping his creative flights in solid melodies. He opens by taking Chick Corea’s "Got a Match" at just the showy pace, with manic octave chords, you’d expect from a young hotshot. But as soon as that number ends, his own "Juliette" reveals a sense of humor in his rhythmic approach as well as an ability to let the blues unravel in its own greasy time. His "Avolation" hints at spiritual interests in the mysterious way its melody builds over pulsing bass notes before easing into a comfortable groove. And the manner in which he lingers over the changes of "Somewhere," as if dragging his feet against the ballad’s customary flow, provides grounding for colorful harmonic excursions and other rich-textured departures from the tune; it’s the first really personal reimagining of the Bernstein chestnut in some time. The disc closes with the near-solo composition "Introspection," a quality not often fully formed in players so young; carved from big, round notes, the delicate performance again reveals the depth of his talent and the titanic possibilities of his career. This may be the sound of a future giant awakening.
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