Centennial Composers Collection.(Sound Recording Review)

Beegie Adair (Green Hill GHD5298)

When I think of "legendary" jazz pianists, the names that come to mind are departed titans of the past such as Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Fats Waller, along with some more contemporary masters such as Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, and Keith Jarrett. Until about a year ago, I had never once heard of Beegie Adair, but her album covers and other publicity materials always seem to refer to her as a "legendary jazz pianist." I mean no disrespect to Ms. Adair, who is obviously a talented musician, when I say that the real legends featured in this 6-CD set are the composers whose tunes Ms. Adair has chosen to perform: George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Hoagy Carmichael. Each of these estimable gentlemen is represented by about a dozen tunes that are presented in admirably straightforward fashion by Ms. Adair on piano, accompanied by Roger Spencer on bass and Chris Brown on drums.

I say "admirably straightforward," because it is most welcome to hear these tunes represented without elaborate arrangements or ...