A Different Time

Keyboardist John Medeski is best known for his work in the iconic groove-jazz trio Medeski Martin and Wood. But the pianist and his bandmates also work on outside projects that go in a number of different directions. Here, Medeski sets aside his usual arsenal of electric keyboards to record his solo debut on an antique Gaveau piano built in 1924. Recorded late at night in a studio build inside a 19th-century church, the contemplative music here is a far cry from Medeski’s often high-energy improvisations. The tempos are mostly ruminative, letting the pianist squeeze every possible bit of emotion out of each song. Even his improvisations like “Lacrima” tend to stay a bit closer to home, lingering on the melody and giving the music and the listeners time to breathe. Other highlights include the swirling “His Eye Is the Sparrow,” the ringing “Graveland Fields,” and another improvisation, “Luz Marina." It all adds up to a listening experience that's eclectic, elegant, elegiac, and more than a little inspired.