Vijay Iyer Trio – Accelerando ACT Music (2012)
A more mature Vijay Iyer offers something the younger Iyer did not. He melds angular, modernist attacks with smooth, easy sensibilities in a way that avoids both stilted transitions and empty new age chamber jazz posturing–sometimes the nagging limitations of his early work. Accelerando features all his strengths and none of his weaknesses. It certainly helps that bassist Stephan Crump provides a very prominent drive to the music. Covering some pop music (“Human Nature”) also reveals a grounded sense of humor. Such little touches evidence the magnanimous spirit imbuing the proceedings. This is music that is as accessible as it is vibrant. It may well be Iyer’s best offering yet.