This acoustic album is heady, electric stuff, from one of the strongest, freshest new bands in New York . . . what makes Playground work is the juxtaposition of Ban’s Old World intellectual romanticism and Sylvester’s earthy Third World fervor. Ban writes subtle, intriguing tunes (eight of the nine here), and every one of his solos finds uncommon lyricism . . .
The liberated latter-day ballads are best. “Gentle Shifts Rain” hovers in space, rather like Jimmy Rowles’ “The Peacocks.” “Silence” is for Shirley Horn, with Sylvester piping high and Ban picking out bare fragments. It is one of the most moving eulogies in recent jazz.