Pathways

's time as an accompanist to has served him well, introducing this very fine young yet experienced player to modern jazz audiences. He's impressive as a modal player with energy and chops to burn, but during this trio effort shows a sensitive side, while not opting for tame or watered-down mainstream jazz. Bassist and drummer are both quite capable players who also understand how to turn the volume down just a touch in order to find balance and symmetry. The Venezuelan-born, N.Y.C.-based is also an accomplished composer, writing five of the 11 selections, while choosing three others out of a Latin-based grab bag and interpreting three well-known standards. Enjoying his stentorian options to extend his remarks on familiar melodies, the pianist really stretches out on the waltz bop version of 's skating around it in implied phrases. The talented pianist digs right into a solo version of 's difficult and reads straight-forward with the trio. He's picked some relatively unknown heritage material like and the former a slow but not still ballad, the latter a modal spirit song that's putty in his hands. Of his originals, sports many twists and turns, starting out sounding like in 10/8 time, and moving to dazzling multiple made-up lines. is another indirect improvised concept in cascading and free, peaceful motifs; is in 6/8 with the drum brushings of ; and is a piano and bass with drum exchange, a post-bop swinger that is elusive rhythmically. Of the many piano-bass-drums jazz trio recordings that tumble into the marketplace year after year, this one is notable and a standout from the crowd. If you enjoy peer-group pianists like , , and , you'll gravitate toward the ever-evolving and emerging talent of -- one to keep an eye and ear on over the upcoming decades. ~ Michael G. Nastos