With Call on the old Wise, Nitai Hershkovits delivers an entrancing solo album. In this largely improvised solo rendering, the pianist draws from broad influences, ranging from his extensive work in jazz contexts and cutting-edge contemporary explorations to his background in classical music.

This immaculate balance of idioms gives rise to an abundance of colours and timbres, explored by a pianist, who has successfully forged his very own voice as improviser and shape-designer. With a soft touch, light action and washing harmonies, Nitai’s improvisations unfold like compositions being created in real-time, making Call on the Old Wise a testimony to the pianist’s unique inventiveness as well as an essential addition to ECM’s celebrated line of solo piano recordings.

The album, recorded in Lugano in 2022 and produced by Manfred Eicher, follows after his contributions in Oded Tzur’s quartet on the acclaimed recordings Here Be Dragons (2020) and Isabela (2022).

1. The Old Wise
2. Enough To Say I Will
3. Mode Antigona
4. Of Trust and Remorse
5. Intermezzo No.3
6. Majestic Steps Glow Far
7. Dream Your Dreams
8. Placid In Africansque
9. Mode Brilliante
10. Single Petal Of A Rose
11. A Rooftop Minuet
12. Late Blossom
13. Intermezzo No.4
14. In Satin
15. This You Mean To Me
16. Of Mentorship
17. For Suzan
18. River Wash Me

The recording opens on the free flowing beauty found within The Old Wise, the dulcet Enough To Say I Will and the embracing Mode Antigona and then brings us the shimmering Of Trust and Remorse, the affecting Intermezzo No.3, the gently flirtatious Majestic Steps Glow Far, with those being backed by the ornate Dream Your Dreams, the veritably stoic Placid In Africansque and the spirited Mode Brilliante.

The album continues onward with the vivacious Single Petal Of A Rose, the delicate A Rooftop Minuet and the playful Late Blossom, and they are in turn followed by the languishing Intermezzo No.4, the vibrantly rhythmic In Satin, the intricate gossamer found within This You Mean To Me, the recording rounding out on the high spirited Of Mentorship and the free flowing For Suzan, coming to a close on the impassioned River Wash Me.

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