Pianist Lafayette Gilchrist teams up a trio with bassist Herman Burnie and drummer Eric Kennedy for a two disc collection of originals that renews your faith in the “classic” jazz trio. There are no frills here; no gimmicks, not attitude, no indulgent modal solos-simply richly composed melodies, faithfully interpreted with that thing called “swing” and “blues” felt in every note and beat. The feels range from a kinetic “Rare Essence” with Kennedy laying out a perfect groove, to a hip strut of “Enough” with the pianist painting the ivories indigo. Kennedy’s brush work is like Monet on the rich “ Can You Speak My Language” awhile having a Monk of a time with Gilchrist on the quirky “The Midnight Step Rag”. Burnie lays down a warm intro to “Bamboozled” and is thick like magma on his line for “Purple Blues” with a warm support for “Tomorrow Is Waiting Now”. The leader has hands like a catcher-warm, soft and strong able to handle anything from heat to changes of pace. This is why you love jazz.