Arrival comes with a shoutout from Ron Carter, a man linked with his share of piano giants. Schimmeroth may not approach the inventive heights of such former Carter associates as Herbie Hancock or Andrew Hill, but he’s a skilled bop-besotted newcomer worth keeping tabs on. And like all smart young players stepping out for a first recording, Schimmeroth values the company he keeps: drummer Jeff Ballard, one of his generation’s most sensitive percussionists, and bassist Matt Penman cushion the leader with refinement and high style. A grooving take on Oscar Pettiford’s bop opus “Bohemia After Dark” impresses, but a nearly 10-minute “Body and Soul” best reveals Schimmeroth’s mainstream promise.
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