HEADS UP! KEYBOARDIST LARRY GOLDINGS IS IN LA AND TEAMING UP WITH
GUITARIST PETER BERNSTEIN AND DRUMMER BILL STEWART FOR A SMOKING NIGHT
AT VITELLOS ON DEC 16 & 17. MAKE RESERVATIONS AT WWW.VITELLOSJAZZ.COM
OR CALL 818-769-0905. CHECK OUT HIS LATEST DISC BELOW

Larry Goldings
In My Room
BFM Jazz Records
www.bfmjazz.com
By George W. Harris

He’s been a sideman for just about everyone from Madeleine Peyroux to
John Scofield, but keyboardist Larry Goldings’ own releases are too few
and far between. Even rarer is when he sticks to the piano, as he does
here on this (EVEN RARER!) solo recording. He mixes the material
between elegant and intimate tunes from the Great Boomer Songbook, some
oldies but goodies, and a few originals.

The choices of Brian Wilson’s “In My Room” and Joni Mitchell’s “All I
Want” show Goldings’ flair for making the most out of contemporary pop
material, a quality that has made him one of the first choice
accompanists for singers. Likewise early 20th century pieces like “Take
Me Out To The Ball Game” and “Beautiful Dreamer” reflect not only an
earlier and more innocent time, but mix nostalgia with modern day
romanticism as well. His own “Interludes” break the calm mood with some
sonic experimentation, while “Roach” is a dark almost-blues. Everything
here sounds like it took a lot of forethought, as each finger on the
ivories carries weight. Intriguing.