High on melody and composition, low on improv. If that’s what you want, pianist Neil Cowley is going to satisfy. He fronts a trio with Rex Horan/b and Evan Jenkins/dr, with some infused with a guitarist, over half of the songs also including a string section, and one (“Mini Ha Ha”) with a mood breaking laugh. The themes are gentle and lyrical, drifting along like the Merced River. Class II is about as intense as it gets here, with REM inducing “Lament” and “Fable” reminiscent of George Winston records of the 80s.