Massimo Colombo, Electric Parker Review

Massimo Colombo is releasing an exciting set of music called Electric Parker. The Italian pianist teams up with drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Chuck Berghofer to bring ten compositions from the Charlie Parker songbook. Colombo performs on the Fender Rhodes, hence the electric identification in the title.

“Scrapple from the Apple” is performed in a solo setting, with Colombo providing his own percussion. The song has a vibe and is a solid opening selection that sets the mood for the project.

“Confirmation,” “Donna Lee,” and “Moose the Mooche” are both vehicles for so many jazz tunes, and hearing the trio navigate the three sets of changes is a fun listening experience.

“Billie’s Bounce,” “Barbados,” and “Yardbird Suite” is given modern shaping with electronics from Colombo as he presents this in a solo format. His time sense is clear and driving, which makes this modern approach work well.

Of course, jazz fans will want to hear some swing, and Colombo and company do not disappoint. “Confirmation” and “Donna Lee” give the swingers what they want. For a taste of Latin, they keep “My Little Suede Shoes” in the known rhythms.

Electric Parker is a fun project to listen to and explore. Colombo has paced the music to feature his solo and trio performances in an enjoyable manner that invites continued listening. The trio has strong chemistry, and Erskine’s playing is beautiful. Colombo shows the never-ending possibilities of Parker’s music and jazz vocabulary. That’s the short of it!