Having already established himself playing electric piano in David Liebman's Lookout Farm group in the early '70s, pianist
Richie Beirach set up his solo career by way of some fine ECM releases. Mixing in solo work with combo dates,
Beirach showed off his Bill Evans-tinged style and revealed his own brand of soft melancholy to the jazz audience. This solo date from 1977 proves the point with nine meditative pieces, all couched in ECM's patented spacious sound. While not on the same intensity level of
Keith Jarrett's work or as subtle as Evans' prime recordings,
Beirach's playing here still delivers its own dreamy rewards. ~ Stephen Cook