A Star (k) is born! As the winner of the Dordtse Jazz Prize, in March 1999, pianist Paul Stark and his new trio with Steve Altenberg on drums and Maciej Domaradzki on bass were allowed to record this CD. You can hear on this CD that Hein van de Geyn, one of the jury members, has made the right choice. There are four pieces by Stark himself, including the song "Joking" with an excellent contribution
… on trumpet by Eric Vloeimans. On the up-tempo song "Ahmad", Paul shows his admiration for the great pianist Ahmad Jamal. Also an interpretation of the song "Bright Mississippi" by Thelonious Monk, the obligatory contribution to the competition with a beautifully elaborated boogie-woogie-like motif. The closing song "Song for my father" by Horace Silver shows some Cuban influences from Paul and is also the second contribution on this CD by Eric Vloeimans. All in all a strong homegrown debut with great expectations for the future. (RM) _more
