Drummer Jeff Williams leads a trio with pianist Carmen Staaf and bassist Michael Formanek through eleven well composed originals. A handful of the tunes have an allegiance to the quirky bop of Thelonious Monk, with a hip swinger in “Scattershot,” bluesy “Scrunge/Search Me” and funky “Air Dancing.” Other moments include sublime piano work on ”Antoher Time” hip cymbal work coaxing “A Word Edgewise Along” and deft brushes on the romantic “Ballad of the Weak.” Each tune has impressive interplay, with no one hogging the spotlight on this three legged race to the finish line.
Pianist Joshua Espinoza leadsa team of Mikel Combs/b and Jaron Lamar Davis/dr thorugh a mix of self-penned originals and clever covers. His own “Unwelcome Dream” is a thoughtful excursion while his gentle touch is highlighted on “Nocturne for Anna Marie” and the rhapsodic flow on”Streetlight Serenade.’ The trio has fun giving a post bop feel to the Swing Era classic “Take The ‘A’ Train” whle giving some folk feel to The Eagles’ “Desperado” and planting seeds of patience during The Beatles’ “In My Life.” Lyrical reads of “Always Something There To Remind Me” and the homespun “Shenandoah” are modernized to present times with post bop harmonization, and the new wine fits well into the old wineskins. Clever and creative.