By Hobart Taylor | Published December 2019
It takes a lot of gumption to start a record with “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.” But pianist/vocalist Leslie Pintchik and her trio gracefully reimagine the tune and two other standards before tearing into a stunning assortment of the bandleader’s originals.
Recorded live at New York’s Jazz at Kitano, Pintchik specializes in taut phrasing, enticing melodicism and wry commentary. On the medium-tempo take of “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face,” the band quickly abandons the head and gently swings, while Pintchik holds down the bottom with her left hand, freeing up bassist Scott Hardy to explore variations on the theme. The result is a lingering glance at an old friend that reveals something new and in-the-moment. The original “Your Call Will Be Answered By Our Next Available Representative ...” is filled with jagged elision, and fitful stops and starts tinged with slight blues underpinnings that call to mind the compositions of Oliver Nelson. Two of the other Pintchik-penned tunes, “Let’s Get Lucky” and “I’d Turn Back If I Were You,” have New Orleans in their DNA, but still are consistent with the bandleader’s wise and witty perspective.
Same Day Delivery: Leslie Pintchik Trio Live: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes; I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face; There You Go; Falling In Love Again; Terse Tune; Your Call Will Be Answered By Our Next Available Representative, In The Order In Which It Was Received. Please Stay On The Line; Your Call Is Important To Us; Tumbleweed; Let’s Get Lucky; I’d Turn Back If I Were You. (62:21)
Personnel: Leslie Pintchik, piano; Scott Hardy, bass; Michael Sarin, drums.
