Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 34

by Richard S. GinellKenny Werner's Maybeck recital, volume 34 in the series, wanders even more freely and unpredictably than most, establishing his footing somewhere just outside the periphery of mainstream solo piano. A neo-romantic, free-associative spirit pervades these excursions, which sometimes end up in surprising places. The opening "Roberta Moon" roams in an almost new age-like manner until it reaches a streak of high velocity, while "Someday My Prince Will Come" is more boppish, with some nice abrupt transitions. An attractive voyage through "In Your Own Sweet Way" moves through "Jeepers Creepers," a snatch of "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," and finally ends up at the door of "Naima." The way he gets around "Try to Remember" before breaking playfully into "St. Thomas" is especially interesting. A most attractive entry in the long Maybeck line.