Denny Zeitlin: Panoply

SUNNYSIDE 1741 (RECORDED 2013-2023)

Listening to Denny Zeitlin’s Panoply is like opening a box of Whitman Sampler chocolates. You never know what you are going to get as you savor each morsel — advenuresome trio performances, engaging solo outings or interesting synthesizer/drum explorations. The trio cuts, recorded in 2019 at Mezzrow, demonstrate how Zeitlin, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson don’t simply play standards, they play with standards — exploring and stretching the rhythmic and harmonic possibilities on tunes such as Gershwin’s “I’m Doing All Right,” Miles Davis’ “Weird” (aka “Walkin’”) and Stordahl and Weston’s “I Should Care.” Strayhorn’s “Johnny Come Lately” is a perfect example as Zeitlin begins with a somber introduction before Williams and Wilson kick in with the familiar melody line only to pull it apart (with Zeitlin plucking the piano strings) and slowly bringing it all back together in a modern approach to this 1942 classic. Zeitlin’s signature crisp, singing single note right hand solos, strong left hand bass lines and cascading runs up and down the keyboard shine on his impressionistic take of Bill Lee’s “Only One,” his dense and spirited version of “Cherokee,” complete with an explosive stride section, and “Limburger Pie and Beeswax Crust,” a Zeitlin original as unique as its title. The trio and solo tracks are interspersed with tracks recorded between 2013 and 2023 featuring Zeitlin on piano, hardware and virtual synthesizers with his long-time musical partner George Marsh on drums and percussion. These five tracks demonstrate Zeitlin’s ability as an arranger as he meshes the various synthesized sounds of strings and horns with his piano playing. Perhaps Sunnyside will explore this aspect of Zeitlin’s skill set with a long overdue Zeitlin with strings release. Like that box of chocolates, Panoply offers something to fill everyone’s taste, but for me the trio and solo tracks are the tastiest!

BOTTOM LINE: Panoply lives up to its name — a complete collection of all things Denny Zeitlin. A dozen unreleased performances dating back to 2013 showcase Zeitlin in a trio setting (with Buster Williams and Matt Wilson), solo performances and duos with Zeitlin on synthesizer and drummer George Marsh. Depending on which Zeitlin you prefer, you’re sure to find something to enjoy on this collection.