Pianist LaFayette Harris Jr leads an impressively swinging trio with Lonnie Plaxico/b and Willie Jones III/dr on this mix of originals and well selected covers. He shows his allegiance to Thelonious Monk-styled bop on a well arranged read of Herbie Nichols’ “12 Bars” while a read of Luther Vandross’ “Take You Out” is joyful and lyrically hip. He sashays well to Jones III’s brushes on “Achern” while able also to flex his muscles with him on the hard driving “Blues On The Edge.” The highlight here is a rumbling “We In The House” that gives reminiscence of Ahmad Jamal’s classic “Poinciana” with similar spaciousness of piano musings with Jones III’s caressing cymbal cadence.The warm hands are felt here on the ivories as well as the “Japanese Love Poem,” causing one to hope this trio hits the road together. Highly enjoyable.
Airmen Records