Pianist/composer Daniel Szabo trios up with bassist Edwin Livingston and drum icon Peter Erskine for a fresh collection of originals that mix melody with intuitive interplay. Szabo has a wonderful control of dynamics here, going to infinitesimally small sounds on the pianissimo climax on “Hun-Fro Blues.” His graceful touch is dainty as it plays around Livingston’s bass on the skating “Kids’ Dancing” while the poetic and melodic “I Crooned it Before” has a folksy attractiveness. Erskine’s brush work is deft throughout, while he shows assertiveness on the cymbals on the percussive “Barbaro Con Brio”. Snowflakes fall on the spacious “A Song from There” and the whole team is nimble but not garrulous on the gently charging “Eastynato.” A real delight for jazz trio fans.
Dszabo Music