In its favour Radio Paradise is not obtusely or indulgently retro at all. Certainly the sax playing of María Grand and Alexandra Grimal light up ‘Better Place Blues’ where there’s also some of Herman’s most swinging soloing. And sure enough there are some revelatory moments borne out of some kind of innovative thought processes – probably provided most of all by the ballad ‘The Minute Before’ or the punchy opening of ‘Jiyu.’
Back catalogue notes
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Alter Ego (2012): An intimate album featuring a quartet explored the concept of one’s “other self.”
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Follow The White Rabbit (2010): A trio album that mixed original compositions and covers, with a focus on melodicism.
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A Time for Everything (2007): A trio album that blended jazz and pop influences.
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Variations (2006): Yaron Herman’s first solo release had an interpretation of Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ and Sting’s ‘Fragile.’
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Takes 2 to Know 1 (2005): A duo album with Sylvain Ghio that was quite avant-garde.
Rewards patience
But enjoyable? Hand on heart, not really as much as some of Israeli-French pianist-composer Yaron Herman’s earlier work. The 43 year old Tel Aviv born player studied at Berklee in Boston and following a move to Paris debuted in 2003 with Takes 2 to Know 1. His awards include scooping the Victoire du Jazz for Best New Instrumentalist in 2008.
Be patient with this album. Certainly you get more out of it the more you return to it with fresh ears each time. That’s because it’s more compositional than before in a chamber jazz direction. That kind of sound has more layers to it.
Not at all a quick hit of a listen – that lack is a flaw as it doesn’t completely engage nor at all move me. Of course what moves any one individual differs from person to person. But hearing this music live is probably an even better idea among people preferably in a proper jazz club or small concert hall setting than encountering it first of all on a recording even in a different Herman shaped line-up. The live experience however altered often informs and explains new music far more than a recorded artefact can attempt. Pick of the tracks is the poignant ‘In This World.’
- Yaron Herman is at Ronnie Scott’s on 30 May – tickets
popular on marlbank recently
