Ugly Beauty

When Producer Nils Winther heard for the first time Kevin Hays at Ron McClure's 1990 session for SCCD 31279 Never Forget, he knew immediately that he had found an exceptional talent. Hays cut his first leader album for the label three months after the McClure date, at the age of 22.His second leader album, Ugly Beauty (originally released in 1992), returns here in a stunning 24bit/96kHz remaster as G1297, reaffirming it's place as a landmark in the pianist's early career. Recorded with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Williams, the album marked Hays's first trio outing-an ensemble format that would become central to his artistic identity. The program blends jazz standards with Hays's original The Well, showcasing his lyrical touch, harmonic depth, and rhythmic drive. The session captures Hays's youthful brilliance while foreshadowing the maturity and originality that define his later work. More than three decades on, Ugly Beauty remains fresh, vital, and deeply engaging-a timeless document of three master musicians in inspired dialogue.