Jim Pearce – You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer – self

by | Feb 8, 2013 | Jazz CD Reviews

Jim Pearce – You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer – self, 42:49 ****:

(Jim Pearce – piano, vocals 1, 2, 4, 5, 7; Herman Burney – acoustic bass 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9; Paul Fallat – drums 1-9; Ken Gregory – trumpet 2, bass 3, guitar 3, 7) 

When you combine bits of Mose Allison, Dave Frishberg and Bob Dorough you get a quirky pianist/songwriter called Jim Pearce. Although not nearly as well-known as any of those previously mentioned figures, Pearce nevertheless exhibits some of those sensibilities that could place him in that category as evidenced in his self-produced release You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer. 

His lead track “You Picked Me” is a perfect apotheosis of all those qualities that could make his lyric-writing and bouncy piano- playing rank up there with those great names. ”My Last Parade In New Orleans” gives Pearce a chance to delve into his own mortality with humor, supported by a great New Orleans-sounding group with Ken Gregory doing a nice turn on trumpet. The pains of aging are given a humorous and witty reading with “Old As Dirt”.

The title track “You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer” gives full range to the vocal chameleon that is Pearce, with a song style that full of flippancy and wistfulness. Each of the vocal tunes that Pearce spins out is replete with suave lyrics and cool rhyming couplets, that all go to add to the playfulness of the compositions.

The instrumental offerings are in no way diminished compared to the vocals, as the band is a tight-knit group with a wonderful rapport. Pearce’s piano playing is exuberant and demonstrates animated suppleness. Whether the group shows its musical integration with the ballad “In The Evening” or on the swinging “Another Waltz For You”, there is a high level of invention and sparkling partnership.

This is a hip release from an under-appreciated songwriter/vocalist/pianist.

TrackList: You Picked Me; My Last Parade In New Orleans; Western Skies; Old As Dirt; You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer; In The Evening; Even Big Monsters Love Music; Lost Love Found; Another Waltz For You; Open Plain

—Pierre Giroux

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