Expressive pianist LeeAnn Ledgerwood leads her hard-swinging trio through nine adventurous standards and originals. Joining here are bassist Matt Penman and drummer Jaz Sawyer, cohesive cohorts from a working unit that evolved through lighthearted musicmaking sessions in Ledgerwood’s New York City apartment.
Ledgerwood’s acoustic piano style follows the straight-ahead tradition of masters she admires. She shows off her powerful, fast and facile right-hand, reinventing classics by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner and John Coltrane. Ledgerwood has abundant technique and with the graceful “Morning Psalm” and the sweepingly tuneful “Appalachian Green” exhibits talent for writing the stuff of standards.
As well as achieving exceptional, tasteful solos, Penman and Sawyer are sensitive players who lock in at any tempo, pliantly anticipating Ledgerwood’s every move. This is an exemplary piano trio session.
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