Variations Kevin Hays

• 1 Variations on a Theme by Schumann I 01:01
• 2 Bluetude I 03:05
• 3 The Dervish of Harlem I 01:16
• 4 Song for the Amiable Child I 02:17
• 5 Contrapunctus I 02:45
• 6 Rumi's View I 03:22
• 7 Countermyth I 00:44
• 8 Rhyming Game I 01:13
• 9 The Dervish of Harlem II 02:49
• 10 Countermyth II 01:03
• 11 Langsam 02:13
• 12 The Long Line 00:46
• 13 Song for the Amiable Child II 01:12
• 14 Countermyth III 00:51
• 15 Variations on a Theme by Schumann II 02:25
• 16 Bluetude II 02:28
• 17 Rhyming Game II 01:42
• 18 Countermyth IV 00:57
• 19 Rumi's View II 02:11
• 20 Contrapunctus II 02:59
• 21 Song for the Amiable Child III 02:18
• 22 The Dervish of Harlem III 03:00
• 23 Bluetude III 03:49
• 24 Variations on a Theme by Schumann III 03:44
• Total Runtime 50:10

Info for Variations

There is a lot to discover in and behind Kevin Hays' piano solo music. It is music that appears to be classical yet deeply breathes in the spirit of jazz. It is the music of a jazz improviser who integrates the vocabulary of various epochs of piano music in an exceptionally natural way, transforming it into a distinctive musical language. Kevin Hays is a musician with an enormous gift for the unusual who creates a fascinatingly integral whole out of a multiplicity of idioms.

“On the whole, Variations tends to lean toward the modern classical side of music, with improvisatory creationism being its one and only true link to jazz, but labeling is beside the point. Variations is pure pianism on parade.” (Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz)

“With their taut, imaginative beauty, they also share this gifted improviser’s rigorous refusal to dwell for long on any one variation.” (Ray Comiskey, The Irish Times)

“Overall, the music on Variations is tautly focused and bracing … But, with respect, I’d have to say that Hays’ disc possesses a brilliance on its own terms.” (Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen)

“Touching on everything from Baroque to late Romantic to contemporary classical, Hays applies his own jazz-honed techniques to small gems that may be partially or wholly improvised. Either way, they’re consistently engaging, nearly all giving way to surprising musical depths despite their brevity.” (Philip Booth, Jazz Times)

Kevin Hays, piano

Kevin Hays
(b. 1968 New York City) began to play piano at the age of six. He had his first professional performance at the age of 15, and by the time he was 17 he was playing with baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola. After studying at the Manhattan School of Music he began touring in the United States, Europe, and Japan with the Harper Brothers, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson, and Eddie Gomez, among others. In 1995 Sonny Rollins brought Hays into his ensemble, and later Hays toured with John Scofield. Alongside his solo projects he has been working with his trio, which has included bassists Scott Colley, Larry Grenadier, Doug Weiss and drummers Billy Hart, Jochen Rückert, Bill Stewart, and Jeff Williams. All About Jazz praised Hays’ Pirouet solo CD, Variations as “pure pianism on parade”.

This album contains no booklet.