Once the “up and coming” pianist in Wynton Marsalis’ quintet, Angeleno Eric Reed has now become on of the sages of SoCal, taking younger gents into his fold and equipping them for their own ventures through the puree of his own wisdom. With Tim Green on alto and soprano sax, McClenty Hunter on drums and Mike Gurrola playing bass, Erc imixes his thoughtful originals with some clever covers. His piano is wondrously elegant and spacious on his rich title track, then having some fun on “Cedar Waltzin’” before grooving with the band on Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing.” His contemplative intro to “Yeserday” veers into a gospel rich “Yesterdays” with Green’s tenor preaching from the pulpit while Green’s soprano floats over Reed’s floating fingers during “New Morning.” The team digs a bop groover on ”Road Life” and Reed plugs in his Fender Rhodes to meld with Green’s tenor for a spacious and breathy take of “Naima.” The ideas flow from the fertile Reed like he was fed from the Nile itself.