Ugly Beauty (1994)

About this title: Kevin Hays was only 23 at the time of this recording and hadn't quite developed the hallmarks of his own style. Still, this is clearly the work of a prodigious talent. Joined by Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Williams on drums, the pianist tackles difficult music by post-bop greats Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, and John Coltrane. He does beautiful work with the standard ballads "Chelsea Bridge" and "Detour Ahead," as well as the Monk classic "Ugly Beauty." Only one Hays original, "The Well," appears, along with "How the Mighty Fall," a bossa by the underrated tenor ... read more

Tracks:

1. Shade of Jade [Henderson]
2. Chelsea Bridge [Strayhorn]
3. The Well [Hays]
4. Ugly Beauty [Monk]
5. Pompeian [Hutcherson]
6. Detour Ahead [Carter/Ellis/Freigo]
7. Big Nick [Coltrane]
8. How the Mighty Fall [Zimmerli]
9. United [Shorter]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.