Bill O’Connell: Touch

JOJO RECORDS (RELEASED JANUARY 17, 2025)

Every so often pianist Bill O’Connell shifts his focus from leading and recording with Latin jazz bands to recapturing the simplicity and naturalness of his 1978 trio recording Searching Trio. He returned to that format in 2017 with The Three of Us, and he does it again with Touch. Accompanied by bassist Santi DeBriano and drummer Billy Hart, O’Connell demonstrates his flexible and captivating “touch” on a set of blues, bop, standards, originals and a Herbie Hancock classic. The title track is a slow and precise, blues-tinged composition with a call and response section reminiscent of “All Blues.” “85^th Street” not only captures the hustle and bustle of New York City, but captures the power of O’Connell’s touch as he shifts from fleet single note runs to percussive chord clusters. The lyrical touch of O’Connell is most evident on his originals “So Beautiful, So Sad,” and the lilting waltz “Sea Glass.” He takes on the playful touch of Thelonius Monk on Harry Ruby’s “Three Little Words.” The musical humor continues with “Billy’s Blues,” a straight-forward 12-bar blues that opens and closes with a rhythmically quirky open and close. There is also a touch of blues to O’Connell’s version of the 1941 standard “I Hear a Rhapsody.” It is difficult for O’Connell to hide his affection for Latin jazz melodies and rhythms. His solo on Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” culminates with a classic Latin jazz riff with the able drumming of Billy Hart. “Cay-Man” captures the feel and flow of a Caribbean island grove, and DeBriano’s “El Junque” is a soothing Latin ballad. It is nice to once again here O’Connell in a trio setting, and even nicer that he chose long-time musical friends DiBriano and Hart to add their touches to the session.

BOTTOM LINE: Pianist Bill O’Connell began his career with the Mongo Santamaria Latin jazz band. Since that time his has recorded numerous sessions featuring the rhythms of Latin jazz. He even received a GRAMMY nomination for this Latin-inspired arrangement of “Chopsticks.” Touch reminds us that O’Connell is just as at capable leading a trio of bassist Santi DiBriano and drummer Billy Hart through a set of originals, standards, blues, ballads and even a Herbie Hancock classic.