Mr. Ban prizes embedded mysteries more so than stylistic directives suggested by Monk’s music, or by that of Paul Bley, who is among the pianists on Mr. Virelles’s list. The only two pieces on Mr. Ban’s album that are not originals— Annette Peacock’s “Albert’s Love Theme,” played with potent restraint and nearly out of tempo; and Carla Bley’s “Ida Lupino,” which swings and soars ever so gently—are really odes to Mr. Bley, who recorded indelible versions of both. Elsewhere, on his originals, Mr. Ban’s use of dynamics—from tender to thunderous and back on the title track—crafts dramatic narratives from each piece. . . . . click to read full review
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