David Kikoski Trio - Almost Twilight - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

One of the more ideal ensemble combinations in jazz is the piano trio, with David Kikoski serving as a major proponent of the genre. For his fourth Criss Cross album, Kikoski leads a powerhouse trio with bassist James Genus & master drummer Jeff InchTainInch Watts. This is easily Kikoski's best album to date, giving him space to romp through a diverse set of tunes, covering everything from Brazilian sambas to pop masterpieces by Frank Zappa & Brian Wilson.

Here, on his sixth Criss Cross , pianist David Kikoski triologues with killer bass/drum team Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart in a lyrical evocation of his introspective side on a program of six originals and two meaty jazz originals. Interplay, close listening and unending flow abide throughout the proceedings.

Pianist David Kikoski, who's partnered so ably on past Criss Cross albums with horn men like Alex Sipiagin, Seamus Blake, Conrad Herwig and Wycliffe Gordon, is perhaps best known for a series of compelling trio albums he's recorded for the tag over the past decade. Now along comes Almost Standards, on which he mixes it up with bassist Eric Revis (Betty Carter, Louis Hayes, Billy Harper and a bunch of Marsalis family members), and much-in-demand drummer Jeff InchTainInch Watts (Branford Marsalis), and an invigorating presence on two earlier Kikoski CDs. The new album's a mix of material serving as takeoff points this time out harmonically intriguing tunes that are already standards or probably ought to be.