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jesse stacken "that that" fresh sound records (fsnt 308):

"what amazes me is how tight this trio is and how they change direction, tempo and dynamics in mid-flow.  without a doubt, one of the best piano dates we've heard so far this year. "
- bruce lee gallanter, downtown music gallery.
read the whole review!

"a piano trio led by jesse stacken - whose lyrical soul is evident since the very first chords that he articulates on the keyboard - and featuring an extremely competent bassist in eivind opsvik (from norway) and a sensitive drummer named jeff davis. i don’t remember of having ever met these artists before, yet enjoying their crystal-clear playing was a complete pleasure. formed in 2005, the group performs a nice blend of jazz-oriented compositions where improvisational spurts and a very conscious interplay are fundamental cards. the defining element of this album is a kind of veiled elegance often bordering on melancholy, both attributes quite apparent behind the façade of a complex metre or amidst some dissonant dissertation. i was reminded of certain old ecm chapters still to be liked on these shores, such as the works by the john abercrombie quartet circa “m” (of course minus the guitar); in fact, stacken made me think of richie beirach’s approach more than once. but, i stress, the whole trio is a treat for the ears, despite their choice of not overly trespassing the limits of well-conceived and executed architectural structures. brilliant music that will surely keep good company for many evenings to come, without the pretence of being remembered as a milestone yet guaranteeing almost one hour of detachment from the preoccupations of technical contortionism."
-massimo ricci, touching extremes

"the trio has tuned their rapport and acheive powerful states of improvisational flow. overall, a really impressive album."
- dan melnick, soundslope
read the whole review!

"on “that that” (fresh sound new talent), his quietly restless new album, the pianist jesse stacken presents a program of all-original material; he also showcases his intuitive and slippery rapport with the bassist eivind opsvik and the drummer jeff davis, who rejoin him for this cd-release gig." -nate chinen, new york times

"jesse stacken, a person of exceptional talent who has been active on the ny music scene since 2002, is one of the remarkable young jazz pianists. this soulful cd celebrates the fruits of his labor with the trio which was formed in 2004. the powerful rhythm secion of the bassist eivind opsvik and the drummer jeff davis, creates dangerously dark and unique sound. listening to the trio's sharp and thrilling interplay makes one's hand sweat. this is truly a very sensational cd." -diskunion, japan.

listen up feature in all about jazz ny - february 2008



peter van huffel quintet "silvester battlefield" fresh sound records (fsnt 290):

"pianist jesse stacken, who comes to nyc by way of minnesota, is adept in his role as both the trigger for and connection between these mood shifts. such is the case on "delirium", where he intricately combines with dubois to lay down a frenetic rhyhtm, allowing van huffel to blow bop, and then artfully picks up the leader's subtle cue to set a pensive mood. his "good mornings" is the albums most touching moment and the vehicle for van huffel's most tender tone."
 - elliot simon, all about jazz - ny. read the full review at allaboutjazz.com



liam sillery "minor changes" oa2 records (oa2 22020):

"the other major voice here is pianist jesse stacken, who delivers rich, plush chords when playing behind other soloists and adds a playful touch in his own breaks."
 -forrest dylan bryant. read the full review at fojazz.com

"pianist stacken contributes a thoughtful, lyrical solo to "prana."" -paul oberlin.  read the full review at jazzreview.com

sherisse rogers' "slight of hand" (self released):

"a hot piano solo by jesse stacken gives [blue skies] just enough of the original taste to make it fit the program."
- jim santella : jazz improv magazine.