Back in Town (2004)

About this title: An excellent modern mainstream pianist who is a bit taken for granted, Rob Schneiderman was actually one of the better jazz pianists of the 1990s. On Back in Town, he plays standards but often with subtle surprises. For example, the ballad "Darn That Dream" is taken up-tempo, Jobim's "A Felicidade" is stripped of its bossa nova rhythms, "Chega de Saudade" starts out much slower than usual, and the second half of Sonny Rollins' "Paul's Pal" becomes unexpectedly humorous. While the other performances are a bit more conventional, they are no less colorful and swinging. Schneiderman, bassist ... read more

Tracks:

1. Darn That Dream [Burke/VanHeusen]
2. Nature Boy [Ahbez]
3. I Concentrate on You [Porter]
4. A Felicidade [Jobim]
5. Never Let Me Go [Evans/Livingston]
6. Chega de Saudade [Jobim]
7. Paul's Pal [Rollins]
8. Giant Steps [Coltrane]
9. Sonnymoon for Two [Rollins]

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