Billy Hart
's CD
Sixty-Eight
is well named, being his 68th record date for
Steeplechase
(and his first as a leader on the label), while it was also recorded when he was 68 years old. The veteran drummer recruited five talented, up-and-coming musicians for this session, including pianist
Dan Tepfer
, trumpeter
Jason Palmer
, alto saxophonist
Logan Richardson
, vibraphonist
Michael Pinto
, and bassist
Chris Tordini
, which primarily focuses on works by jazz greats who were active in the early '60s. Five of the tracks have connections to
Eric Dolphy
, the brilliant multi-reed player who died far too young. Alto saxophonist
doesn't try to mimic
Dolphy
's often jagged flights on his instrument, instead finding his own voice in the interpretations of
's
"Serene"
and
"Out There,"
while trumpeter
is the perfect foil for him in
's tricky
"Number Eight"
Mal Waldron
"Fire Waltz."
But the spotlight belongs to
Hart
with his tense solo in a surprisingly brooding rendition of
Jaki Byard
"Mrs. Parker of K.C."
The young musicians are also up to the challenges of
Ornette Coleman
's free jazz composition
"What Reason"
Sam Rivers
'
"Beatrice."
also encouraged his musicians to contribute their originals.
Tepfer
's infectious
"Punctuations"
has an ominous air that makes it sound like it could have been written during the early '60s when
Waldron
were working together, while
Palmer
"That's Just Lovely"
is a haunting, beautiful ballad.
's inspired drumming is the undercurrent of the date, pushing the younger musicians to play at the top of their respective games. ~ Ken Dryden