Gratitude (1996)

About this title: An in-studio solo piano recital, Gratitude features Jessica Williams on a number of originals and jazz classics. Beginning with the minor-key, vamp-based original "The Sheikh," Williams acts as her own rhythm section, strumming the piano wires manually to set up the call-and-answer structure of the piece.Compositionally, aside from Williams, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk are the two prevailing forces on the record. Williams' version of Coltrane's "Mr. Syms" may be very straightforward, but tunes as good as these don't require any window dressing. "Like Sonny," the second Coltrane ... read more

Tracks:

1. The Sheikh [Williams]
2. I Cover the Waterfront [Green/Heyman]
3. Mr. Syms [Coltrane]
4. Serenata [Williams]
5. Justice [Monk]
6. 'Round Midnight [Hanighen/Monk/Willi]
7. Like Sonny [Coltrane]
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It [Gershwin/Gershwin]
9. Last Trane [Williams]

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