Tommy Flanagan - Jazz Poet (1989) [2015 Timeless Jazz Master Collection] CD-Rip

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A great title for this one – given the extremely poetic sound of Tommy Flanagan on the piano! For years, Tommy's had a great talent for being as bopper, yet as sensitive as a mellower, more lyrical player too – a brilliant combination that shows up instantly in the first few notes of this set – a late 80s recording that's filled with warmth and subtle imagination. The trio features George Mraz on bass and Kenny Washington on drums – the latter of whom really gets things swinging in some great gentle ways – and titles include "Raincheck", "Lament", "Caravan", "Voce Abuso", "Mean Streets", and "That Tired Routine Called Love".
By the time of this recording, pianist Tommy Flanagan had been performing for decades – mostly as a sideman – for a who's who of jazz: players such as Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, and Sonny Rollins, to name a few. His perfect, yet unassuming style made him the pianist of choice for dozens of musicians. While he has recorded as a leader from time to time, this album may be the best representation of his work available. He performs a set of great tunes ("Caravan," "Willow Weep for Me," "St. Louis Blues," "Lament," and others) in a topflight trio, with George Mraz on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Flanagan is at the peak of his powers. Never flashy, never showy, this is just outstanding music performed by a true master who is one of the great bop pianists of the 20th century.

Tracks:

01 - Raincheck
02 - Lament
03 - Willow Weep For Me
04 - Caravan
05 - That Tired Routine Called Love
06 - Glad To Be Unhappy
07 - St. Louis Blues
08 - Mean Streets
09 - I'm Old Fashioned
10 - Voce Abuso

Personnel:

Tommy Flanagan - piano
George Mraz - bass
Kenny Washington - drums