PAPATAMUS REDUX

SELF RELEASED (RELEASED JANUARY 9, 2026)

Twelve years ago, classically trained pianist Bijan Taghavi was captivated by the music of Oscar Peterson and Kenny Barron. His interest in jazz was further fueled by his studies with Fred Hersch. Phil Markowitz, Gerry Dial and Xavier Davis. You can hear those influences and others as well as his classical background on Cactus Sessions, his first foray into solo piano recitals. Taghavi covers a range of standards typical of Concord Records’ revered Maybeck Recital Series from the 1990s — standards, bossa novas and Monk tunes. The only thing missing on Cactus Sessions is originals! Taghavi bookends the session with two classic tunes from the pen of Antonio Carlos Jobim — “Wave” and “Desafinado.” Both demonstrate his strong rhythmic left hand and his light and fluid touch in the right hand. He incorporates stride and blues in his interpretation of “I Should Care,” and puts his fleet bebop chops to good use on the up-tempo “Have You Met Miss Jones.”  Taghavi’s skill as a ballad player is most evident on his heartfelt reading of “East of the Sun.” While many piano players like to incorporate a smattering of Monkisms while tackling a Monk tune, Taghavi makes his version of “Ask Me Now” all his own. The only track that seems out of place on Cactus Sessions is Taghavi’s interpretation of Horace Silver’s “Peace.” His rhapsodic approach to this tune is more classically based than the other tunes on the session. According to Taghavi, the studio’s Yamaha C3 piano inspired him to explore all the possibilities of sound — loud versus soft, high versus low and dense versus sparse — in a tasteful display of his ability to make the transition from classical to jazz. Despite the release’s title and the cover photo, there nothing prickly about Cactus Sessions.

BOTTOM LINE:A lthough Bjian Taghavi’s Cactus Session may not command your attention like Concord Record’s 42 volumes of solo piano recitals recorded at Maybeck Recital Hall, it certainly is deserving of your attention. A mix of standards, Jobim tunes and a Monk tune provide Taghavi with a launching for his improvisational style which he has honed since first hearing pianists such as Oscar Peterson and Kenny Barron and his studies with some of the leading pianists on the scene today.