This exceptionally talented pianist and composer has come up with a thoroughly winning program of originals and standards here, with his own very
Monkish "Right Place, Wrong Key" leading off and an unaccompanied version of
Monk's "Gallop's Gallop" finishing things off 12 tracks later. This tells us something about his influences, but he wears them gracefully, not afraid to pilfer where appropriate but always allowing his personal voice to shine through. Highlights include the title track, a luscious ballad on which sax player
Dick Oatts and trumpeter
Randy Brecker take turns weaving soulful, muscular lines around a tender melody, a daringly polytonal uptempo rendition of "All the Things You Are" and a lovely take on
Steve Swallow's "Eiderdown." Highly recommended.