In describing Songs of Mirth and Melancholy, the recent album of piano and saxophone duets he recorded with longtime bandmate Branford Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo seemed almost dismissive.
Like most of the recordings he has been associated with — be they solo projects or the numerous works undertaken during the past 12 years with Marsalis' extraordinary jazz quartet — Calderazzo views Mirth almost exclusively in the past tense. The jazz process for him involves immersing himself in the music, seeking something applicable from it that can benefit his playing, then moving on.
By Walter Tunis — Contributing Music Writer
