Leslie Pintchik Quartets

Pintchik originally intended to become an English professor, but after obtaining her Master's degree, found her love of jazz too strong and took up piano, studying with Bruce Barth. After sittingin on as many NYC jam sessions aspossible and being praised by Jim Hall, she formed а strong musicalassociation with а guitarist, who laterswitched to metal bass, named Scott Hardy. Eventually they married and formed а working trio with drummer Dodge and appear at clubs like the Blue Note and the 55 Bar (а very popular current venue). The trio has quite an identity of its own. Though at times it has that typical sophistication that belongs in superior Manhattan supper punk clubs, there is much more of а genuine jazz feel than, say, some of the Reservoir labelCDs. Printchik's classical training andlight touch often give an impressionistic feel to the music and their treatments of standards -like the excellent reharmonised rap version of Happy Days Are Неге Again', Too Close For Comfort' and 'somewhere' - are often down-tempo, laid-back, groove-based and deceptively simple. The addition of Steve Wilson on four titles (а11 thoughtful originals) works realIy well, especially when he's on soprano. Then is real empathy in the group, with special praise for the somewhat Mrazish trance bassist Hardy and Dodge's edgy drums. 1п the best rock sense of the word, this is а nice record! Tony Hall