[rating=3.50]
There is a warmth in Jacky Terrasson’s piano playing on Push not unlike that which pervades his previous work. But in combination with the playful charm he exudes throughout this disc, along with the simpatico relationship evident with his accompanists, the sensation runs deeper than in the past.
Neither fans nor jazz lovers in general alike need be concerned that Terrasson sings on two cuts. On "Oh Yeah" and "O Cafe, O Soleil," he sounds like he’s merely mirroring the joy he takes in his own playing and, as a result, both tracks are of a piece with the remainder of the disc where the interaction between the pianist and his trio suggests mental telepathy. Follow, for instance, the way bassist Ben Williams and drummer Jamire Williams maintain the introductory pattern of "Gaux Girl" after Terrasson proceeds into different change, or the fleet pace to which the trio accelerates on "Beat Bop."
The plush texture that informs Push, preserved through Phillip Gailatt’s mixing and mastering, arises from the gentle yet authoritative touch that all musicians utilize. The soft tuneful strains of Gregoire Maret’s harmonica on "Ruby My Dear" further reaffirms the mood as does the swirling saxophone of Jacques Swartz-Bart on "Morning." Terrasson clearly inspires his accompanists in more ways than one: as the pianist and the rhythm section play "Beat It/Body and Soul," as their collective awareness of each other during their interactions is quietly uncanny.
But sharp intuition has always been a vital virtue of Jacky Terrasson and on Push, he’s elevated himself to an altogether higher plateau.
