One of the leading elder voices of the piano, Eric Reed shows himself one of the masters of the trio on this sublime and nocturnal album with drummer Reggie Quinerly and bassist Luca Alemanno. I’ve seen him as a sideman for the likes ranging from Wynton Marsalis to Eric Alexander to Janis Siegel, and he knows how to be the perfect partner, as well as the leader of his own modern sounding groups.Here, he’s in a subdued mood, and except for the jovial and upbeat take of Thelonious Monk’s “Ugly Beauty” the atmosphere is of low lights and reflection. His own “Black, Brown, and Blue” is a sublime and candle lit solo piece to open things up, while he does a pleading duet with vocalist David Daughtry on Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and digs into his church roots with Calvin B. Rhone for a rich Lean On Me”. WHEW!
With his trio, Reed goes extra somber on Duke Ellington’s “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” and Buddy Collette’s “Cheryl Ann”. Reed gives a recitative of McCoy Tyner’s “Search For Peace” and is equally contemplative on Horace Silver’s “Peace”. Usually a mainstream swinger, Reed makes music for a spiritual retreat, with much food for thought.