TT 367: Onward

Technically Acceptable on the road and in review

Feb. 21 – Paradox – Tilburg, Netherlands
Feb. 22 – Bimhuis – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb. 23 – LantarenVenster – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Feb. 24 - La Spirale – Fribourg, Switzerland
Feb. 26 - Helsinki (SF), G Livelab
Feb 27 - Tampere (SF), G Livelab
Feb. 28 – Victoria – Oslo, Norway
Feb. 29 – Fasching – Stockholm, Sweden
March 1 – Jazz In Bess – Lugano, Switzerland
March 2 – Jazzclub – Ferrara, Italy
March 3 — Casa del Jazz — Rome, Italy
March 4 – Teatro Carambolage – Bolzano, Italy

I have simply been bowled over by all the reviews for Technically Acceptable. People seem to “get it,” and, truly, there’s nothing more to ask for than that.

Will Layman at Popmatters: “Technically Acceptable is a Riveting Journey.” Layman contextualizes my recent controversial essay on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Piano Sonata. I did not plan on the Rhapsody think piece and my Sonata to be in such obvious dialogue with each other — the close chronology was happenstance — but, yes, the connection is there. At any rate, I so appreciate Layman’s thoughtful comments.

Peter Margasak is a crucial jazz critic, I highly recommend subscribing to Nowhere Street. He writes that Technically Acceptable “captures the pianist’s knack for scooping up the entirety of jazz history within original tunes and making something that feels built for our time.” In the same review, Margasak also considers my close associate drummer Vinnie Sperrazza, who also has a great new album out, Sunday, with Loren Stillman, Brandon Seabrook, and Eivind Opsvik.

Karl Nehring does a lovely dual review for Classical Candor that combines Hiroko Saskai’s Debussy record (“Clean, articulate playing, natural sound quality, emotion without exaggeration”) and my latest (“musically stimulating, sonically superb, and well worth an audition by jazz and classical fans alike”).

Syd Schwartz regularly documents a “jazz odyssey” and included Technically Acceptable in a recent roundup, declaring the album “deep and delightful.” Mr. Schwartz is clearly a long-term fan; it is so nice to see someone who has stayed with me post-TBP.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine has big ears and includes the album amongst many other genres, writing that Technically Acceptable was, “The record I played most often in January.”