“New Faces – New Sounds” – Kenny Drew

Album: New Faces – New Sounds

Artist: Kenny Drew Trio

Year: 1953

Genre: Bebop

Grade: A-

Raised in New York City and having played with the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker and Lester Young, young pianist Kenny Drew was already one of the most talented bebop up-and-comers by the time he started leading his own bands and recording sessions. Drew’s first 10” LP, New Faces – New Sounds (a common title for early ‘50s Blue Note debuts, shared by the likes of Horace Silver and Lou Donaldson), delivers on his high potential. Throughout the album, the 24-year-old pianist already sounds like an accomplished veteran. (Playing alongside drummer Art Blakey and bassist Curly Russell certainly helps, of course).

With Bud Powell as his main inspiration (Russell played on “Un Poco Loco”), Drew’s brand of bebop is constantly changing, from soothing to energetic to bittersweet several times over within the same song — often all within the same piano line. It’s a virtuosic, beautiful, soulful style filled with chromaticism (i.e., notes outside the scale). And although Drew was never as widely known as his contemporaries, New Faces – New Sounds shows that he was always just as skillful and innovative.

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