Pianist Greg Reitan has a winning and upbeat touch here as he leads a trio with Jack Daro/b and Dean Koba/dr through a mix of originals and standards. Of the latter, he feels out each key of the pensive reading of “Lonely Woman” as if palpating for a pulse, while he has a tensile tenacity that veers in and out of Daro’s bass on the buoyant “Stella By Starlight.” He feels quite assured and assuring on “I Loves You Porgy.” Of his own material, he’s serenely optimistic on “The Mourning of a Star” and gently joyful on “One Day I’ll Fly Away.” He uses spaces patiently on “After the War” and is on a gentle cruise with Koba’s delicious ride cymbal on “Windows.” A real fresh set of fingers here.
Sunnyside Records