Now Hear This CD Purchase

Now Hear This is a perfect summation of Whitaker’s evolution to date. The album opens on Whitaker’s brilliant acoustic playing, however, as he sets the pace for “Overcoat,” an intense contribution that’s followed by a tender trio rendition of Ahmad Jamal’s gorgeous “Tranquility,” after which the band expands to realize Whitaker’s own composition “Underground.” A more intimate, impressionistic side of his organ playing emerges on his own original, “Thinking of You.” He renders the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil hit “Black Butterfly” and gets deeply funky on Eddie Harris’ immortal “Freedom Jazz Dance.”  The Tyner influence emerges on a stormy trio rendition of the standard “Bernie’s Tune,” while a more elegant side of Whitaker’s talents is revealed on Billy Strayhorn’s “U.M.M.G.” Whitaker’s “Miss Michelle,” melds Latin and R&B influences into a gently swaying dance, while the Latin inflections explode on Michel Camilo’s fiery “Caribe.”