Pianist Jacky Terrasson has moved from Blue Note to Concord for Push, an eclectic collection. Bassist Ben Williams and drummer Jamire Williams (unrelated) groove hard with Terrasson on the second-line opener “Gaux Girl.” The trio’s take on the unlikely medley of “Beat It/Body and Soul” re-imagines both songs so thoroughly they come out sounding like a new composition. Guest harmonicist Gregoire Maret adds a gentle vibe to Thelonious Monk’s “Ruby, My Dear,” and cranks it up on Terrasson’s gospel/R&B original “Say Yeah.” Terrasson, the 1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition winner, pays further tribute to the master on “’Round Midnight,” with an uptempo Latin segment adding a new twist. Further arranging ingenuity is found in the bluesy take on the Cole Porter standard, “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.” Other originals round out the disc, including the closing calypso, “O Café, O Soleil.” Terrasson’s diverse approach keeps you on your toes.
This article appears in June 23, 2010.