Anthony Wonsey - Blues for Hiroshi [CD]

Pianist Anthony Wonsey's first Sharp Nine release (and first U.S. release as a leader) is a trio set of swinging, feel-good music. Wonsey, who has extensive experience as a featured sideman with such jazz stars as Elvin Jones, Nicholas Payton and Kenny Garrett, plays with the bluesy feel and rhythmic looseness that can be found in his major influences: Wynton Kelly, Red Garland and Bud Powell. This date contains six standards and three Wonsey originals (including Wonsey's daring Cedar Walton inspired transformation of "Darn That Dream" into "Damn That Reality"). Ably abetted by Richie Goods and Tony Reedus, the fare here is straight-ahead, foot-tapping, blues-inflected piano jazz at it's best.