Yaron Herman, the young Paris-based Israeli pianist, has often been a covers specialist so far (Björk, Britney Spears, Leonard Cohen, Scriabin …), but his virtuosic Blue Note debut is mostly original and developed in the studio through improvisations with only one imaginative partner – fellow Israeli and sometime Lee Konitz drummer Ziv Ravitz. The result is a fast-moving slideshow of contemporary styles. The solo opener, Fast Life, applies classical polish to a dancing vivacity reminiscent of Chick Corea, but the funkier Vista balances Robert Glasper-like caressing of an anthemic melody against rugged drumming, and a distant vocal chant that sounds like the bowing of a ghost-bassist. The robotic Nettish is powered by Herman’s fiercely metronomic left hand, Open Hands and Scriabin’s Prelude No 4 Opus 74 cherish minimal-volume nuances, Volcano (produced by Björk’s Valgeir Sigurðsson and featuring Icelandic singer Helgi Jónsson) sounds like Radiohead, and Children Don’t Always Play Fair is a storm of throbbing left-hand vamps, galloping drums, eerie xylophone pings and children’s voices. Everyday feels like Yaron Herman’s coming-of-age on record.
