PAPATAMUS REDUX

CLAP YOUR HANDS RECORDS (RELEASED JANUARY 10, 2025)

Chick Corea and Gary Burton introduced us to the sonic possibilities of a piano/vibraphone duo with their 1973 release of Crystal Silence. Those possibilities are further explored on The Wait from pianist Kevin Hays and vibraphonist Jorge Rossy. Despite the playfulness and Latin-tinge of the opening track, Toninho Horta’s “De Ton Pra Tom,” which may remind you of tunes from the initial Corea/Burton recording, the remainder of the 10 tracks on The Wait have a more somber, almost film-noirish quality to them. This is most evident on their interpretation of Thelonius Monk’s “Misterioso” which opens with a foreboding Hays piano solo. The noirish quality, which is further defined by Hays classical touch and the deep vibrato of the vibraphone, continues with tunes such as Hay’s “Row Row Row” and “The Wait” as well as Milton Nascimento’s “Travessia” and the Rossy and Hay’s original “Awareness.”  The mood shifts slightly for the lilting melody of “Tears” and a serene rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere.” Like Corea and Burton, Hays and Rossy manage to blend the sonorities of their instruments into a delicate chamber-like listening experience. However, don’t write it off as mere background music. When you listen closely to The Wait, you’ll hear unexcelled musicianship and the inspired interplay between two masters of their respective instruments. Unfortunately, I find myself waiting for something more rhythmically to happen. Perhaps, that is where the title of the release comes from — The Wait!

BOTTOM LINE: With the exception of Monk’s “Misterioso” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere,” pianist Kevin Hays and vibraphonist Jorge Rossy present a chamber-like
recital of primarily original material on The Wait. At times the music is serene and dark. At other times it is bright and playful.  It is always meticulously performed by a musical collaboration of masters on their respective instruments.