Cyril Benhamou – H.O.T. (Heart of Town)

What’s immediately striking about the music on Cyril Benhamou’s first trio album is its emphasis on melody and rhythm.

Melody, because most of the themes have an obvious cantabile flavor, as on a very short solo piece or another where a cello joins the trio.

Then there’s rhythm, as the pianist frequently uses rhythmic twists on which the melodies are grafted. Most of the melodies, composed by Benhamou with one exception, are crystal-clear, and the piano’s imperious touch lends them great seductive power.

Benhamou does not place himself in the tradition of colleagues such as Keith Jarrett or Brad Mehldau; on the contrary, he displays a candor and a desire for simplicity that steers him away from harmonic sophistication and towards the heart of the music.

His inspiration ranges from Jewish music to Irish folk, from groove to tango, taking us on a journey through varied soundscapes.

The rhythmic pair that accompanies him is distinguished by the fact that the bass is electric and, like the drums, is part of a group sound that leaves little room for solos. It’s more a tightly-knit trio than an accompanied pianist, and this trio has no trouble drawing us into its wake, so much so that the music it offers exudes obviousness and the joy of playing together.