Danny Grissett Trio - Encounters - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

A sparkling pianist as well as a fine budding composer, Danny Grissett's star has been on the rise lately and he's a favorite accompanist to a growing body of leaders including trumpeters Jim Rotondi, Jeremy Pelt, and Tom Harrell. He returns for his third Criss Cross and moves past the trio to feature tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, trombonist Steve Davis and newcomer Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet. Grissett puts his stamp on all the material including updates on Herbie Hancock's InchKing CobraInch, and Monk's InchUgly BeautyInch. His originals are also cut from a regal cloth of originality, with bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Kendrick Scott responsive to the pianist's every move.

For his debut recording, Los Angeles-born pianist Danny Grissett, who played frequently in 2004-05 with such artists as Vincent Herring, Tom Harrell and Nicholas Payton, displays his mastery of the piano trio function. Joined by Vicente Archer (bass), his frequent partner in Payton's quartet, and drummer Kendrick Scott, best known for his work with Terence Blanchard in recent years, Grissett uncorks a polished set of standards (Autumn Nocturne, Everything Happens to Me, Moment's Notice, You Must Believe in Spring) and well-wrought originals.

On Stride, his fourth Criss Cross leader date, pianist Danny Grissett returns to the trio he navigated with such panache and imagination on his first two outings for the tag. Longtime bass partner Vicente Archer and top-of-the-class drummer Marcus Gilmore join Grissett in a fluent three-way conversation on a reflective program that incorporates the American Songbook, the European canon, original tunes by trumpeters Nicholas Payton and (his current employer) Tom Harrell, and three heady Grissett originals. As always, the leader's playing is melody-driven, harmonically acute, swinging and focused; he again proves himself one of the major voices on his instrument among the under-40 crowd.