Live at Bradley's
Jazz is a music best heard in a live context, and this date recorded at the famous Bradley's in New York City, which closed in the mid-'90s, offers an excellent example of how the music should sound. The room was a favorite of piano players and Kenny Barron was no exception. Backed by longtime partners drummer Ben Riley and bassist Ray Drummond, Barron's no-mistakes lyricism and fleet-fingered piano lines zip through a pleasing set of standards and post-bop jazz compositions.Miles Davis's "Solar" gets an invigorating workout, as does the striding "Everybody Loves My Baby, but My Baby Don't Love Nobody but Me." Barron's genius as a balladeer comes through on his pillow-soft treatment of "Blue Moon," and his rendition of "Canadian Sunset" recallsAhmad Jamal. The standout track is Barron's tasty Latin take on James Williams's "Alter Ego." A good gig, at a good club, by some very good musicians.--Eugene Holley Jr.