Dedication Review

07/13/2005 7:47 AM, AMG


Dedication is the follow-up to pianist/composer Stu Goldberg's much-heralded release of 2002, titled Going Home. It features eight original compositions filled with intricate interplay, florid improvisation, and tight ensemble passages from the pianist alongside bassist Jeff Falkner, drummer David Renick, and Kenny Goldberg on saxes and flute. The innovative pianist, who played with some of the most daring fusion artists of the '70s -- including Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Alphonse Mouzon, and Wayne Shorter -- continues to make his mark in the 21st century with a genuine sense of the depth and range of straight-ahead jazz. Opening with "Morning Star," a light, beautiful piece with Kenny Goldberg's flute out front on the melody, the ensemble offers the listener variety and the pacing necessary for a truly rewarding aural experience that sustains interest. Each player's solo is clean, articulate, and is played with a healthy sense of adventure. "Winter Clouds" is just the opposite -- a beautiful, pensive, introspective ballad that features Stu Goldberg alone on the acoustic piano. He provides a vivid pictorial through arpeggios and chord changes that suggest the airy floatation and dissipation of clouds on a winter day. This is a lovely song that is both relaxing and sensitive. Overall, the eight originals and great musicality make Dedication a work of art worthy of addition to any jazz collection. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide