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Renee Rosnes’s latest is an almost-brilliant achievement. The pianist is a rhythmicist of the highest degree, and brings her capabilities to bear in a variety of contexts, commingling jazz (often straight-ahead with a vengeance) with (South Asian) Indian , Senegalese, and Native American chant, song and/or instrumentation.
If one were to start and stop with the CDs first two selections, "brilliant" would be the proper appellation. "Empress Afternoon" begins with tabla-driven eastern rhythm schemes that Rosnes then ‘plays back’ on the keyboard, an exchange that repeats throughout. "Senegal Son" has an almost island feel, with marimba and the African "djembe", and its easy lilt becomes as lulling as Caribbean waves or African street dances.
There is more of this eclectic internationalism here, and through it all Rosnes dances across the keys. Then why "almost" brilliant? Because of the occasional backsliding into an almost new-age ambience on balladic works, a replay of the Paul Winter/Oregon chaste jazz (as on "Gabriela Passage") or the unnecessary string accompaniment on "The Quiet Earth" (a shadowy reminder of late Mahavishnu Orchestra ). There is a fine line between beautiful and saccharin, and it comes too close for this listener’s comfort. Nonetheless, so much of this CD is invigorating and well-performed that "almost" brilliant is a high accolade.
— Jules Epstein, February 2002
Release Date: 8 January 2002
Life on Earth (Blue Note)
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last update 6 March 2002