Dave Frishberg had not recorded a strictly instrumental solo piano record in many years when he cut this 1997 Arbors set. Actually he does vocalize on four numbers (most memorable is his classic "I Want To Be A Sideman" and a remake of "Can't Take You Nowhere"), the other ten songs put the focus purely on his underrated but swinging mainstream piano playing.
Frishberg, whose inspirations are the swing era pianists rather than those of the bop era, even turns
Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High" into a swing song. Other highlights include "You Took Advantage Of Me," "Jump For Joy" and a six-song "Kansas City Medley." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow