Sam Yahel played his own song “Truth and Beauty" around the middle of his early set on Tuesday night at the Village Vanguard. In the past hes recorded it on Hammond organ, in a different group, with saxophone and drums. Here he was playing it on the piano, with the bassist Matt Penman and the drummer Jochen Rckert, and it had a different personality: first more tense, with its crowded contrapuntal opening, then more permissive and abstract. Lots of space opened up. Mr. Yahel played straight notes over swung grooves and slow phrases over cruisingly fast bass and drums. The music felt suspended and comfortable, and kept its cool.
Mr. Yahel came to New York in 1990, starting music school as a pianist. Then he adapted to the organ, and a career quickly came into view: he had less competition. Many associate him with the organ, either in his own groups or touring with Joshua Redman and Brian Blade.
But he never gave up playing piano. About five years ago he started playing regular piano-trio gigs at Smalls, and after a few years of them he made a convincing piano-trio record, “Hometown," which was recently released on Positone. As a result, hes leading a band at the Vanguard for the first time.
Mr. Yahel came to New York in 1990, starting music school as a pianist. Then he adapted to the organ, and a career quickly came into view: he had less competition. Many associate him with the organ, either in his own groups or touring with Joshua Redman and Brian Blade.
But he never gave up playing piano. About five years ago he started playing regular piano-trio gigs at Smalls, and after a few years of them he made a convincing piano-trio record, “Hometown," which was recently released on Positone. As a result, hes leading a band at the Vanguard for the first time.
