The Dance

Anat Fort - Peel

Anat Fort, Piano
Andreas Henze, Bass
Heinrich Koebberling, Drums, Percussion
Aaron Stewart, Tenor Saxophone
Dan Nadel, Guitar    

This album of all original material by pianist Anat Fort has an overall pleasant, enjoyable sound. Much of the album is rather meditative, although it also has some passion and has interesting voicings against engaging rhythms. Her compositions are sometimes moody, thoughtful and spirited all in one, as on "This Is It" and "Me".
    "The Bridge" is a high energy mix of straight ahead and some outside treatments. "Light Suite" starts out and ends reflectively, however, the midsection rolls along in a delightfully lighthearted way, even including a moment of some rock inspired guitar. There is a joyful playfulness on "The Dance". "Lullaby" is a tenderly treated solo piano piece.
    Considering the range of mood and dynamics of this CD, the players are very cohesive.

    Peel marks the recording debut of Anat Fort, a fine Israeli-born jazz pianist. Her program mixes up solo pieces, trios with bassist Andreas Henze and drummer Heinrich K?bberling, and quartets adding tenor saxophonist Aaron Stewart. Guitarist Dan Nadel comes on board for the penultimate track, an extended piece called "Light Suite," but his presence weighs it down. Fort's tunes incorporate strange harmonic twists, bringing tension to her generally introspective playing; the ballad "Arrivals" is the best example. Another trio tune, "More Than Anything," reveals her strong grasp of dynamics -- the piece begins rubato, settles into a straight-eighth feel, and continues to build as Fort reveals an intensity lurking below her contemplative surface. The two quartet pieces are the quirkiest: "The Dance," a snappy calypso-rock number, finds Fort mining smart intervallic concepts on her solo; "The Bridge" lets each soloist start with an unaccompanied break before the band enters in driving swing time. There are hints of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea in Fort's concept, but her shrewd originality comes through loud and clear. 

ANA 001 (1999)

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