Don Friedman Trio

A great little set from Friedman -- a vastly underrated pianist who's working here as a bright young modernist in a trio with Chuck Israels on bass and Pete LaRoca on drums. The tracks have a freedom that reminds us a lot of Bill Evans' early work, with a warm lyricism that never gets too hokey -- yet isn't afraid to show itself in Friedman's original compositions. Titles include "Sea's Breeze", "Loves Parting", "Modes Pivoting", and "Circle Waltz".