Bob Erlendson had a long career in Calgary's jazz scene - as well as many other cities, including Toronto where he lived from 1991 to 2008. This LP features a schwack his compositions - all very short, but all quite enjoyable with a light, joyful feeling. James Muretich wasn't so hot on this... he was probably in the mood for some sort of terrible epic rock opera. [img width=662.5px]//7ca49eb9f67ba1319ef136f9d52cd8b8.cdn.bubble.io/f1747703158786x840241002010117600/richtext_content.jpeg[/img] [b]Solo debut reflects jazz pianist's varied background[/b] By James Muretich (Herald staff writer) [b]Bob Erlendson: Solo Piano (Gibob Records/independent). [/b] Pianist Bob Erlendson has done it all in his 36 years as a professional musician. He has inhabited jazz lounges, played in a rock band on a Canadian TV series in the '60s, performed with guitarist Lenny Breau and stoked the fires of the Calgary jazz scene with saxophonist Gib Monks in recent years. So it should come as no surprise that his long-awaited solo debut should reflect his various rites of passage. This collection of solo piano compositions from between 1955 and 1987 are most enticing when Erlendson summons up the spiritual tones of a Bill Evans or the sweet bluesy-jazz feel of an Oscar Peterson. These songs have a rich though understated emotional quality. However, his restrained style often smacks of years of playing in lounges before more potted plants than people. As well, the brevity of many of these tunes keeps the recording from picking up a full head of creative steam. Solo Piano is a confident, assured work full of delightful moments. Unfortunately, there is a lack of consistent vision and vitality that prevents it from becoming a major musical force.
