REVIEWS

"Denny's approach has always been a masterful synthesis of technique and "brain freedom" — the suspension of pragmatism so that his spirit and hands can run the creative show...The album [Both/And] is a magnificent work that combines acoustic improvisation with densely layered electronica and sound sampling. What you hear is a sophisticated frenzy of jazz forms and computerized expressions that simultaneously astonish and tickle." "Denny has always been an action pianist, but here he's operating on a much larger scale and in multiple dimensions — combining acoustic and electronic jazz keyboards with synth-symphonic surprises to produce an original work that's both chapel and cathedral� What's extraordinary is that Denny is playing and creating all of the sounds himself." "At times it sounds as if there are dozens of musicians playing� sound samples, software and instruments become electronic tubes of paint and the size and scope of what's created is large, provocative and breathtaking. You have to hand it to Denny for continuing to let curiosity drive his explorations to the outer edges of the electronic jazz galaxy."
      Marc Myers, jazzwax.com

"5 Stars [highest rating] Denny Zeitlin turns the solo piano world on its head with the most ambitious work of his storied career. A stellar performance and unique hybrid that others have attempted but with nowhere near the harmonic wonders that Zeitlin creates here… Both/And is an incredibly inventive approach combining both acoustic and electronic instrumentation in a setting that celebrates Zeitlin's prolific talent not only in jazz but in the world of the classical as well as a smoldering funk bass and the more open ended avant-garde… To a certain extent this is a release documenting Zeitlin as a cultural byproduct of his own experiences over the last thirty years. The only live recorded instrument is a Steinway grand piano while the layers of texture that weave their way in a synergistic ebb and flow are from the digital realm of keyboards, sampled instruments and unique sound sources processed digitally but remaining oddly organic with an almost three dimensional sonic depth of field. While one might expect a release of this nature to be somewhat "one note" we find Zeitlin going far deeper than what other artists have attempted with an electro-acoustic format. Easily one of the best releases for 2013."
      Brent Black, criticaljazz.com

"Dr. Denny Zeitlin has made a career of creating a catalogue of some of the most imaginatively lyrical and sublime acoustic solo and trio sessions…This time around, the good doctor changes the prescription and treatment, mixing his signature sound with electronics that provide bass lines, percussion and a wide range of experimental sounds… A fascinating experiment that succeeds thoroughly well on various fronts."
      George Harris, jazzweekly.com

"The set features Zeitlin working alone, but on a mix of electric and acoustic keyboards – really stretching out and exploring a rich range of new sounds, but all with that sense of lyricism, mood, and timing that makes his straighter jazz material so great!...Make no mistake—there's still plenty of jazz in the mix here, and the spirit of Zeitlin's other recent work greatly informs the set..."
      DustyGroove.com