LOUIS HERIVEAUX
TRIADIC EPISODE HSR 110
CD $14.99
Photo by J.D. Scott
"As debut albums go, this one is an absolute stunner."
****1/2 DownBeat
Louis Heriveaux is a fixture of the Atlanta scene, but until now, the pianist has mostly stayed in the shadows. Heriveaux has been content to lend his bubbling, inspiring voice to some of the best bands throughout the region, but with Triadic Episode, he’s stepping out on his own. It’s been a long time coming.
Triadic Episode is Heriveaux’s first recording as a leader. It’s fitting that the release comes from Hot Shoe Records, a place where the pianist has clocked numerous hours helping craft other people’s recordings as a first-call sideman.
For his trio date, the pianist gathered two trusted, noteworthy sidemen in bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Terreon Gully. The inclusion of these players shows that Heriveaux’s reach as a jazz heavyweight isn’t limited to the Atlanta region; his musical sensibility and jazz wit are befitting of a much larger market.
The album’s music is a mix of originals and covers that have played a part in Heriveaux’s development as a musician. The pianist pays tribute to one of his influences, Mulgrew Miller, by opening the album with “From Day to Day,” which Miller released in 1990. Heriveaux’s original compositions delve into his personal life, parsing complex subjects best suited for musical exploration. He wrote “One For Simus” for a dear friend who was lost to suicide during the recording process.
Taken as a whole, the collection of tunes interpreted by Heriveaux’s bouncy, blues-filled sound show the pianist is ready for the limelight. Now that he’s successfully stepped out on his own with a stirring album, fully embracing his role as band leader, imagining him as a sideman will simply be impossible.
Jon Ross – March 2016
PLAYERS:
Louis Heriveaux, piano
Curtis Lundy, acoustic bass
Terreon Gully, drums
All arrangements by Louis Heriveaux
Original compositions (2,3) by Louis Heriveaux
Original composition (5) by Curtis Lundy
Original composition (7) by Louis Heriveaux and Curtis Lundy
Original composition (11) by Terreon Gullyn Gully