Lorne Lofsky is a cool-toned guitarist in the tradition of
Jimmy Raney and fellow Canadian
Ed Bickert. Since
Lofsky's sound is not all that exciting, it is fortunate that he is not only an expert bop-based improviser but very good at picking out a repertoire that fits his style. For his trio set with bassist
Mike Downes and drummer Jerry Fuller,
Lofsky performs four songs by
Bill Evans plus numbers by
Wayne Shorter,
John Lewis,
Lennie Tristano ("317 East 32nd"), and
Ravel, along with a few standards. To give variety to the date, four pieces are taken totally by
Lofsky, who overdubs a second (and sometimes third) guitar with taste. "Subtle creativity" is a phrase that sums up this session as a whole, for it takes several playings to fully appreciate the tight musical communication between the trio members along with
Lofsky's inventive ideas. ~ Scott Yanow