So Far
So Faris Canadian pianist D.D. Jackson's first major label release, as well as his first solo recording. The program pays homage to his inspirations--which range fromDuke Ellington,Thelonious Monk, andBud PowelltoClaude DebussyandVladimir Horowitz--without copying any of them. He also honors peersMichel CamiloandJohn Hicksas well as his late mentorsJaki ByardandDon Pullen, whose rambunctious spirit lives on in Jackson's playing. Like that of Pullen, Jackson's freight-train technique often threatens to jump the rhythmic and harmonic track, which makes it all the more satisfying when he pulls into the station right on time. If his approach to gentler tempos still seems a bit heavy-handed, at least he's found a distinctive voice of his own.So Far, so good.--Rick Mitchell