| The Big Push | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 31, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | May 9, 2005 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 52:49 | |||
| Label | HighNote HCD 7144 | |||
| Producer | Don Sickler | |||
| Larry Willis chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Big Push is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2005 and released on the Highnote label early the following year. [1] [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| All About Jazz |  [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
The review by Allmusic's Scott Yanow said: "Long a greatly in-demand sideman, pianist Larry Willis excels during this opportunity to lead his own trio. ... The interpretations are lyrical, quietly emotional, harmonically sophisticated, and full of subtle surprises. This is the type of jazz recording that grows in interest with each listen, for there is a great deal happening just beneath the surface. Recommended". [3] All About Jazz' Michael P. Gladstone observed "In choosing a trio for The Big Push, Willis selected drummer Al Foster, his old student partner from the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan, and the in-demand bassist Buster Williams. The tunes are a combination of a few sturdy standards, two originals and jazz standards. ,,, Buster Williams steps in frequently to provide fine support for Willis, notably on the ballads and mid-tempo tracks; Al Foster supplies just the right touch for the cookers as well as the tastefulness needed on the ballads". [4] JazzTimes' Thomas Conrad noted "This is a classy recital, made even more fun by Van Gelder’s clean, full-bandwidth sound". [6] The 2008 edition of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings described it as one of the best piano trio albums of recent years. [5]
All compositions by Larry Willis except where noted
Charles Anthony "Buster" Williams is an American jazz bassist. Williams is known for his membership in pianist Herbie Hancock's early 1970s group, as well as working with guitarist Larry Coryell, the Thelonious Monk repertory band Sphere and as the accompanist of choice for many singers, including Nancy Wilson.
Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra is an album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his trio, released in 1966. The group is accompanied by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman.
Quartets 4 X 4 is a 1980 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March and May 1980 by Tyner with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Al Foster and featuring trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, guitarist John Abercrombie, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, each for one side of the original double LP. The album was digitally remastered and first issued on a single CD in 1993.
Don't Ask is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, released on the Milestone label in 1979 and featuring performances by Rollins with Mark Soskin, Larry Coryell, Jerome Harris, Al Foster, and Bill Summers.
Right Now! is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1965 and released on the Blue Note label. It features McLean in a quartet with pianist Larry Willis, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Clifford Jarvis.
Mal/4: Trio is an album by American jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded in 1958 and released on the New Jazz label.
A Garland of Red is the debut album by pianist Red Garland, recorded in 1956 and released on the Prestige label.
Tangerine is an album by saxophonist Dexter Gordon which was recorded in 1972 and released on the Prestige label.
The Promise Land is an album by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 2001 and released on the Highnote label.
Bluebird, also released later as The Trio with Guests (1956) and Hank's Pranks (1962), is an album by American jazz pianist Hank Jones recorded in 1955 for the Savoy label.
Breakfast Dance and Barbecue is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie and his Orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams featuring tracks recorded at a Disc Jockey convention in Florida in 1959 and originally released on the Roulette label.
Green Chimneys is an album by pianist Kenny Barron which was recorded in Holland in 1983 and first released on the Dutch Criss Cross Jazz label. The 1988 CD reissue included six bonus tracks.
Inner Crisis is an album by American jazz pianist Larry Willis recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.
The Offering is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2007 and released on the Highnote label.
Blue Fable is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2006 and released on the Highnote label early the following year.
Reflections is an album by saxophonist Frank Morgan which was recorded in 2005 and released on the HighNote label the following year.
Episode One: Children of Harlem is an album by saxophonist Gary Bartz which was recorded in 1994 and released on the Dutch Challenge label.
My Funny Valentine is an album by American jazz pianist Larry Willis recorded in 1988 and originally released on the Japanese Jazz City label before being reissued in the US on Evidence Music in 1998.
623 C Street is the second album led by saxophonist Ralph Moore which was recorded in 1987 and released on the Dutch Criss Cross Jazz label.
The Powers of Two, Volume 2 is an album by drummer Paul F. Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was released in 2006 by Mapleshade Records. The album is the companion to 2004's The Powers of Two.
