The blind Catalonian pianist Tete Montoliu is in great form on this 1977 session recorded in Spain, accompanied by bassist Eric Peter and drummer Peer Wyboris. He shows off his tremendous chops in a roller coaster treatment of the bittersweet ballad "You've Changed," then switches to a jaunty mood for a brisk treatment of "It Could Happen to You." Wyboris kicks off the thunderous take of Jimmy Heath's "Jimmy's Tempo," a passionate hard bop vehicle. But the primary focus of this CD consists of four original blues penned by the pianist. It seems likely that at least some of them were improvised on the date, though "Blues for Coltrane" seems to draw inspiration from the late tenor saxophonist's rapid-fire live solos that left little open space. "Blues for Myself," the centerpiece of the release, seems closely related to "You've Changed," though the chord progressions do vary. Released by the Spanish label Ensayo, this disc is worth acquiring.
ARTISTS: TETE MONTOLIU TRIO
Title: BLUES FOR MYSELF
Release date: 1977
Duration: 40:29
Recorded in Casino L'Aliança del Poble Nou, Barcelona, on January 3, 1977
Produced by Antonio Armet
Remastering: Cezanne Producciones. Las Rozas, 2015
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop
Label: DiscMedi Blau (DM5180-02)
1. Blues for Corien (Tete Montoliu) 5:13
2. You've Changed (Bill Carey-Carl Fisher) 7:35
3. And the Angels Sing: It Could Happen to You (Burke Van Heusen) 6:03
4. Blues for Myself (Tete Montoliu) 6:14
5. Jimmy's Tempo (Jimmy Heart) 5:16
6. Blues for Llorach (Tete Montoliu) 6:01
7. Show Details Blues for Coltrane (Tete Montoliu) 3:59
Tete Montoliu: Piano
Peer Wyboris: Drums
Eric Peter: Bass
JAVI
