| "A masterful bop-based improviser... his lines unfolding with an impressive blend of precision and propulsive swing." |
| - Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times |
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| "The best bebop pianist this side of Barry Harris." |
| - Len Dobbin, The Montreal Mirror |
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| "A most extraordinary distinguished musician... second generation of bebop pianomen... more elegant expression - his stroke is both stringent and sparkling... he creates intimacy" |
| - Boris Rabinowitsch, Politiken, Copenhagen, Denmark |
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| "Unsung hero of Jazz... master of classic bebop piano" |
| - Scott Yanow, L.A. Scene |
| ________________________________________________________________________ | "(O'Brien) makes you feel good on up tempo numbers, and ... can get inside your memories on ballads."
"He was a vital part of the bop scene toward the end of the 1950's, ...(and) also fitted in with swinging ease during the 1970's, with such great post-bop innovators as trombonist Roswell Rudd." "At long last, O'Brien...is the leader on his own session. O'Brien plays with such crisp imagination and so resilient a beat that it's hard to figure out why this debut took so long." |
| - Nat Hentoff, Modern Recording & Music |
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| Hod O'Brien's first album as a leader is "worth your attention"..."(He) comes off handsomely in his own right." |
| - Ira Gitler, Jazz Times |
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| "Sensitive"..."Able"..."Continually Interesting"..."a very pleasant listening experience." |
| - Variety |
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| "Quick-silver styling"..."The most stunning aspect of O'Brien's versatility is that he manages to enhance every number with a dazzling thrust of harmonic progressions, thereby interjecting an arresting flexibility"..."The Hod O'Brien Trio is certainly one of the most interesting and captivating jazz combos." |
| - The New York Post |
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| "Rocketing pieces"..."Familiar lines...with a...fresh new sound." |
| - John S. Wilson, The New York Times |
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| "(O'Brien) deftly stitched the pattern of supporting melody that wove the piece together"..."Genuine collaborative improvisation." |
| - Don Nelsen, The Daily News, NY, NY |
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| "Inspired...A fine musician whose fame has not caught up with his abilities." |
| - Lowell Times Dispatch, Lowell, MA |
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| "Brilliant"..."Highly skilled." |
| - Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post |
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| "He hasn't been heard on records nearly often enough." |
| - Doug Ramsey |
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