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Deanna Witkowski, From This Place (2009, Tilapia Music) |
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Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor
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Saturday, 18 April 2009 |
 An accomplished bandleader, composer and liturgist, pianist Deanna Witkowski has spent the past decade in diverse pursuits. Winner of the 2002 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, she has explored Brazilian rhythms, released three acclaimed jazz recordings, and composed for church liturgy in Chicago and New York. Now, following in the giant footsteps of Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams, Witkowski releases her first set of sacred music, setting traditional hymns to original music and taking on the task of writing liturgical text for several compositions. From This Place features Witkowski the vocalist as much as Witkowski the pianist, and brings along a trio of stellar singers (Laila Biali, Peter Eldridge and Kate McGarry) as guests on four tracks. Her quartet has chops to match—saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Scott Latzky. While there is no doubt as to the foundations of text in Christian traditions, Witkowski views “all music as sacred, if it is made with the intent to heal, uplift and rejuvenate spirits” and further suggests that much of this music can be presented in the jazz club context: “People, whether or not from a Christian tradition or faith background can at least feel the story, experience the story or just experience the music.” That said, the text is impossible to ignore; yet listeners outside a strong Christian tradition should feel that the musical experience itself is indeed uplifting. As a pianist and composer, Witkowski recalls Fred Hersch and the softer side of Marilyn Crispell. In particular the recording starts with a strong nod to blues and gospel with “Let My Prayer Rise” (Psalm 141), glorified by McCaslin’s high-spirited tenor. Witkowski’s title track swirls with a symphonic urgency, and the acappella trio of Witkowski, Biali and McGarry on “Never Before” is a triumph of vocal harmony. Patitucci is elegant throughout and particulary on his solo on “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” Witkowski is solid as a modern vocalist but exquisite as pianist and composer, in any context.
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