And If is the second ECM recording for Israel-born, New York-based jazz pianist Anat Fort. It’s also the first recording she's made with her trio — a band she's been with for the past decade.
The close-knit group is evident on And If, as Fort displays an ease and seamlessness with bassist Gary Wang and drummer Roland Schneider that can only come with years of familiarity. Sure, the 2007 release of A Long Story, which had Fort backed by Ed Schuller and the famed Paul Motian, was met with plenty of critical acclaim. But the obvious chemistry she has with her longtime collaborators makes And If a release equally worthy of a listen.
All 10 tracks are Fort's compositions, the first and the last being tributes to Motian, who served as Fort's mentor. But And If has Fort delivering a top-notch performance, too — it’s clear, spare and precise, with a near-classical feel. There’s a delicacy here, too, that’s captured in tracks such as the Middle Eastern-flavoured “Something ’Bout” or the evocative “Minnesota.”
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