First Light
Digital format — Album / Tracks
- also feat.
- Frank Harrison (piano), Aidan O’Donnell (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums)
- released
- 2006
- Label
- Basho Records
- Catalogue no.
- SRCD15-2
Reviews
John Fordham. The Guardian
Harrison is most familiar as Gilad Atzmon's pianist, and the 2006 Atzmon group's diversion toward keyboard electronics might suggest a hint of that on Harrison's personal debut. But this is an acoustic-trio set in Brad Mehldau territory, and the scalding pace and motivic zigzagging of What Is This Thing Called Love? is a reminder both of how much spark remains in this familiar jazz-ensemble format, and how many good examples of it there are in the UK.
Harrison is accompanied by the bassist they call Scotland's Dave Holland - Aidan O'Donnell - and by that sensitive small-group drummer Stephen Keogh. The pianist's quiet, rippling originals take five tracks; there are three standards, and a brooding account of the Spartacus theme with O'Donnell in conversational support. Harrison's swaying ballad Jinni is the most openly songlike of his own pieces (Bill Evans-like in its accelerating development), but - as with Mehldau - the most elliptical, preoccupied overtures develop unexpected fireworks. A promising start.
Peter Bevan, The Northern Echo
Pianist Frank Harrison will be familiar from Gilad Atzmon’s groups but this debut album presents him in a new light. He’s accompanied by bass player Aidan O’Donnell and drummer Stephen Keogh but it’s Harrison who stands out on a session which is as delicate and expressive as anything else I’ve heard, helped by a crystal clear recording. It’s simply beautiful.