Rossano Sportiello is a virtuoso pianist and a master of piano styles. From Fats Waller to Bill Evans, he’s on familiar terms with them all. This trio with bassist Nicki Parrott and drummer Eddie Metz provides the ideal setting for him to expand on 15 numbers, mostly associated with jazz piano greats of the past. They include a beautiful version of Duke Ellington’s Sunset and the Mockingbird and a fresh look at Erroll Garner’s much-frequented Misty. Metz, using brushes, demonstrates the rare art of quiet but dynamic drumming, and Parrott adds variety with the occasional vocal. The album can be enjoyed on several levels, from pleasant background listening to the closest attention.
