“Autumn in New York” by Peyton Griffin

Peyton Griffin’s latest recording, “Autumn in New York,” feels like a quiet dialogue between memory and possibility. At only twenty three, the Seattle born pianist who now calls New York home approaches the classic standard with the patience of a musician who values reflection as much as virtuosity. His interpretation does not revisit older versions of the tune. Instead, it reveals how he hears the song in the present moment, guided by his instinct for harmony and his growing confidence as an arranger.

Griffin introduces gentle shifts in color throughout the performance. His use of subtle modulations and carefully shaped voicings gives the melody a soft glow, much like the light that settles over the city during the fall months. Each phrase feels considered and genuine, as if he is discovering the music again while he plays it. The influence of the pianists who inspired him is certainly felt, yet his touch and pacing show that he has already begun to form a vocabulary that is unmistakably his own.

What stands out most is the emotional clarity of the recording. Griffin captures the mixture of romance, change, longing, and quiet optimism that defines the season. The music moves naturally between brightness and introspection while always maintaining its sense of direction.

With this release, he offers a glimpse of the artist he is becoming, one who treats jazz not as a museum piece but as a living language shaped through honesty and storytelling.

Peyton Griffin’s “Autumn in New York” marks an important step in his artistic path, signaling a commitment to both tradition and personal expression.

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