Live at Visiones

by Alex HendersonOne of the admirable things about Kenny Werner is his willingness to enter a variety of jazz situations. Whether the pianist was backing a singer, showing his appreciation of Herbie Nichols, or playing unaccompanied solo piano, he was quite flexible in the 1980s and 1990s. Recorded live at New York's Visiones in 1995, this CD finds Werner leading an acoustic piano trio and playing standards. Visiones changed its name and turned into an R&B/funk/blues venue in the late 1990s, but when Live at Visiones was recorded, it was still one of Greenwich Village's hot spots for jazz. Joined by bassist Ratzo Harris and drummer Tom Rainey, Werner interprets Chick Corea's "Windows," John Coltrane's "Blue Trane," Miles Davis' "Blue in Green" and other well known pieces. But don't think this album is an example of the same old standards being played the same old way -- Werner provides his share of interesting twists and turns and keeps things from becoming predictable. Werner takes chances with these standards, making Live at Visiones a CD that is fairly fresh-sounding.