Decades

Jazz aficionados and music lovers will love Octave Records’ latest release, Decades by pianist extraordinaire Erik Deutsch. Decades takes listeners on a journey through Jazz history, though somewhat off the beaten path. Rather than the usual standards, the album features deep cuts from artists like McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton and others. Plus an Erik Deutsch original, “Amor Eterno”.

Erik is a world-class musician who is currently on tour with the Black Crowes and who has played with dozens of artists including Norah Jones, Shelby Lynne, Leftover Salmon, Don Byron, Warren Haynes, Art Lande and countless others. On Decades he’s joined by longtime musical companions Dean Johnson on upright bass, and Tony Mason on drums.

“The band formed about 10 years ago, and this is our first recording together,” said Erik. “We formed as a way to get together and play this kind of traditional jazz piano trio music. The band members were born in 1956, 1966 and 1976, so we called the band Decades. The three of us just connected, even though we’re different ages.”

Decades offers a variety of moods, tempos and styles. Jimmy Heath’s “CTA” takes hard-bop swing and fills it with unique harmonic and melodic ideas. “Breakthru,” by Erik Deutsch’s teacher and mentor Art Lande, deftly weaves blues-influenced lines, octave leaps, and maybe a little tip of the hat to Monk into an engaging mix. Denny Zeitlin’s “Skippy-ing” is, as the name suggests, full of angular melodic leaps and musical turns, played at an irresistible tempo. Erik’s original composition, “Amor Eterno,” brings an introspective feel and showcases the remarkable musical communication and interplay between the trio. McCoy Tyner’s “Aisha” is simply gorgeous. The sound is sumptuous throughout, spacious yet intimate, and inviting.

The album was recorded by Steven Vidaic, mixed by Jay Elliott, and mastered by Gus Skinas. All recorded in up-close-and-personal DSD 256. The music is captured with extraordinary realism, from the body and harmonic complexity of the Yamaha grand piano to the richness and depth of the acoustic bass, and the dynamic presence of the drums. The feeling of the trio performing live as it happens is palpable, communicating every musical intent with nothing between the musicians and the listener.

Erik Deutsch, Piano
Dean Johnson, Upright Bass
Tony Mason, Drums