Remaining just a bit below the radar scans of all but the most astute jazz followers, New Yorker Pete Malinverni has recorded a total of four albums now for the Reservoir label and each one has spoken eloquently for a greater appreciation of his gifts.

His most recent is Autumn in New York (Reservoir 171) and once again the pianist has the advantage of claiming two wonderful section mates as part of the proceedings: bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Leroy Williams. The opening “Simpatico” not only sums up in a word the chemistry honed by this trio but also introduces us to Malinverni’s strong bop-inflected style, marked by a fleet right hand.

Three other originals can be found among a few select standards. “Elegy” was penned to honor friends who perished on September 11th, and like “Contemplative” it explores more reflective areas of the pianist’s musical personality. By contrast, “Little David” is an up tempo romp which sports long flowing phrases accented by dense block chords from Malinverni’s left hand. Irwin is as rock solid as ever, but it's Williams who continues to impress as a major talent who should have risen to major star status years ago based on his work of the past decade.

For related reviews, see
8 On 88: New Releases in the Piano Trio Format .