“I remember at the time, something about Jimmy Page’s guitar solos, I realised that in jazz, the piano gets to do what guitars get to do in rock, you know, stretch out and take solos and be featured. “The tradition seemed to be people [innovating] and if you’re going to engage in that tradition, you have to make some kind of contribution, otherwise you’re just stealing. It’s just you, contending with all the elements.”Taborn’s solo performances are certainly adding new flavours to the jazz stew, embracing the whole tradition of jazz piano but always fresh, always searching for new and unexpected sounds. And it gets hard, because you know you could just do the things that you know will work. It doesn’t have to be the greatest thing, but it opens the door to new discovery each time, and that’s kind of what is exciting about it.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2019 04:52 UTC