John Corbett's liner notes to this album cite
Misha Mengelberg,
Paul Bley, and Lennie Tristano as possible influences on pianist
Pandelis Karayorgis' playing.
Thelonious Monk might be another. Yet,
Karayorgis is an original voice, one who meshes tonal clusters with an uncannily angular and subtle style. Here, with drummer Randy Peterson and bassist Nate McBride, the pianist makes every note count, with an unpretentious, deliberately paced mix of attractive originals, plus some not-so-well-known pieces by
Eric Dolphy,
Duke Ellington, and
Ken McIntyre.
Karayorgis' lines follow their own logic, and sound almost as though he is performing with his elbows, which of course he isn't. Peterson and McBride are both very effective partners, sharing the leader's penchant for quirky, carefully constructed nuance. As a trio, they may not be trailblazing entirely new territory, but the journey is filled with tastefully delicious twists and turns. ~ Steve Loewy