ALBUM REVIEWS

CHRISTIAN JACOB

“Maynard Ferguson Presents Christian Jacob”

Concord

* * 1/2

The 38-year-old pianist Christian Jacob, who came to the United States from France in 1982, is best known for ongoing associations with both Gary Burton and Maynard Ferguson. This trio date is his first CD and it shows him to be a strongly competent, if not highly stylized player.

Bassist John Patitucci and drummer Peter Erskine afford Jacob wide and propulsive support. Erskine’s persistent, understated cymbal ride develops tension against Patitucci’s resonant tones, allowing Jacob to be either pointedly curt or deep and expansive.

Jacob has a lavish left hand that can juggle anything his right hand develops. He’s saved his best stuff for the standards, reworking “Our Love Is Here to Stay” with a stout bass line reminiscent of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue.” His originals, sometimes all tease and no delivery, are less successful. The Rachmaninoff dedication “Sergey Suite” is appropriately lush but without strong passion. Though a late-starter, Jacob shows major promise.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).