Pink Elephant Magic
On this, her 22nd release as a leader, Joanne Brackeen once again demonstrates her ability to stretch far afield stylistically while maintaining a staunch individuality. Her piano playing is an idiosyncratic mixture of muscularity and grace, while her compositions make use of multiple themes and tempos. This combination keeps the music pleasingly unpredictable and gives her guest soloists plenty of latitude. On "Ghost Butter" she takes center stage with lengthy piano excursions, while on "Cram 'n Exam" and "Filene's," she lets sax menChris PotterandDavid Liebmanspin their stories at length. In either case, Brackeen's bristling piano gives the music energy and direction. Joanne Brackeen was the first woman to fill the piano chair inArt Blakey's Jazz Messengers and, years hence, she still plays jazz with the verve, integrity, and strength we associate with that exemplary group.--Wally Shoup