The Thang

is one of many pianists who made their debuts during the 1990s, but his second release for finds him in the process of creating his own distinctive style. Dividing the play list between originals and familiar tunes from the world of Broadway, , and , is joined by bassist and drummer , with tenor saxophonist added on several tracks. He immediately teases the listener by playing the theme of before detouring into 's famous introduction to 's well-known . joins the trio for an inventive, strutting take of that adds a hip hook. It's hard not to think of 's famous take of while he was with ; this version pays homage to this famous recording. 's own compositions have catchy melodies that make one want to hear them again. is an infectious yet easygoing . The tense cooker was created especially for the meeting with , who negotiates its sudden twists with ease. But the sassy within may very well turn it into 's most requested number on club dates, as it seems impossible that any audience would be able to sit still while listening to it; yet there the pianist never allows the theme to regress into a predictable pattern. If you're not already familiar with 's work as a leader, this is an excellent place to start. ~ Ken Dryden