Bruce Barth—Live at the Village Vanguard

(MAXJAZZ MXJ 205)

The MAXJAZZ label out of St. Louis has been a pleasant surprise over the past five years. They've serenaded Jazz radio with a dozen quality Vocalist Series CDs, and now they're well into their acclaimed Piano Series to the tune of six total releases. Pianist Bruce Barth, besides fitting into that deep "talent deserving of wider recognition" chasm, is also a prominent A&R man and arranger for many of the MAXJAZZ projects. Here Barth takes the helm nicely with a live package recorded at the legendary Village Vanguard. For this exquisite date, Barth chose a top-drawer modern rhythm section in bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Al Foster. The originals-to-standards ratio is roughly fifty-fifty. The opening original, "Little Ditty," sets things off on a busy pace, but if you want to hear Barth really strut his stuff and set the keys on fire, then proceed to the Cole Porter number, "In the Still of the Night." Then Barth tackles three Thelonious Monk pieces, "Evidence," "Let's Call This," and "San Francisco Holiday". His fluid style shaves a bit of the quirkiness off the Monk compositions, but in a refreshing way. "Let's Call This" has a nice prowling feel in the opening strains.