Bruce Barth's recording debut as a leader was an auspicious one, though it probably wasn't as widely distributed as it might have been by a U.S. label. Accompanied by a number of other talented young players (
Steve Wilson on alto and soprano sax, trumpeter
Scott Wendholdt, bassist
Robert Hurst, and drummer
Lewis Nash), the pianist works magic with time-tested standards such as his adventurous post-bop treatment of "I Hear Music" and a rhapsodic solo interpretation of
Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." His trio arrangement of
Wayne Shorter's "Pinocchio" is suspenseful yet full of energy, while another
Shorter composition, "Wildflower," shows just a hint of
McCoy Tyner's influence on his playing.
Barth's original works are also worth investigating, especially the sauntering "Nefer Bond" (named for his cat) and the tender ballad "Louise," which features an intriguing blend of
Wilson's soprano sax and
Wendholt's trumpet. The overall strength of this initial recording as a leader by
Bruce Barth make it worth the search.