Joanne Brackeen - Special Identity (Antilles, 1982)

This post is by Scott

Joanne Brackeen (p); Eddie Gómez (b); Jack DeJohnette (d)

Recorded on December 08-09, 1981

From this listener's perspective, Joanne Brackeen is one of the finest pianists of her generation.  She is an extraordinary talent, both as a player and composer.  She's wrote all seven compositions on Special Identity, and each piece offers interesting, odd angles that take the music in unexpected directions.  While incorporating elements from giants who preceded her (like Thelonious Monk and McCoy Tyner), Brackeen forged a forceful and distinctive voice that's unmistakably her own.

Gómez and DeJohnette regularly worked with Brackeen, having previously recorded unheralded classics like Keyed In (Tappan Zee, 1979) and Ancient Dynasty with Joe Henderson (Tappan Zee, 1980), so it's no surprise that their interplay is telepathic.

For some reason, Brackeen has never received the accolades she deserves.  This album is more evidence that making compelling music offers no guarantees regarding critical response, much less popularity.  In some cases, the most interesting musicians remain the most overlooked.  Give Special Identity a listen, and see if you don't agree.