Cornelius Claudio Kreusch – 1994

Description

Cornelius Claudio Kreusch – piano
Nate McBride – bass
Marvin Smitty Smith – drums
Thomas Grimes – rap’oetry

Originally released in 1994 on the ENJA label, this recording is the first of many by pianist and composer Cornelius Claudio Kreusch realized in New York.
Joined by longtime trio partners Nate McBride on bass and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums and percussion, the pianist, then in his early twenties, manifested his genre-bending concepts between jazz, Africa, and poetry, showcasing his musical thinking inspired by the M-Base collective.

The Philadelphia Business Journal at the time named the album one of the five best jazz albums of the year. Downbeat Magazine praised it highly and Jazztimes said of it “The righteous rap of the 90ies.”
The specially invented term “rap’oetry” by the great African-American lyricist, poet and playwright Thomas Grimes crowns the recording of this brilliant piano trio of three Young Lions of the day.
Digitally remastered, with a new title and in an even more coherent order for the artist, the recording is now released in a high-quality DigiSleeve, as well as for download and streaming.