Kevin Fort: Everything I Love

Pianist Kevin Fort is a virtuoso improviser and an imaginative composer with a refreshingly novel style rooted firmly in the mainstream tradition. In addition to playing with several Chicago-area artists, Fort leads a cohesive trio that has created a unique, delightfully textured sound. It is mostly with this ensemble that he has recorded his four superb albums, the last of which is the disc at hand, the captivating Everything I Love.

A mix of standards and Fort's originals, Everything I Love, maintains a thematic unity thanks to the group's synergy and the musicianship of its members. Opening the set is the hard-swinging "Mako." Fort embellishes the infectious melody with agility and panache and keeps the momentum going with unexpected twists and turns. Bassist Joe Policastro follows with a lyrical improvisation, setting the stage for drummer Jon Deitemyer's elegant polyrhythms.

Similarly infectious is the band's cover of pianist Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now." Fort's performance begins with a mix of cascading, dense chords before launching into an enchanting deconstruction of the tune. Policastro and Deitemyer provide deft support with their dynamic refrains. Fort, in turn, backs both Policastro's graceful solo and Deitemeyer's suave, rumbling one.

A democratic leader, Fort never hogs the spotlight, allowing his sidemen to shine. On the soulful "Elemental," after demonstrating his charming and fluid pianism, Fort takes a backseat during Policastro's poetic extemporization. Deitemyer takes center stage with his sparse, muscular beats laying down a mesmerizing cadence with a simmering passion before the closing head.

The seamless camaraderie among the musicians allows them to function as a vibrant unit, as heard on the wistful ballad "Winter Crescent." After a few bars of unaccompanied piano, Deitemyer enters with splashing cymbals and soft thrums echoing Fort's resonant tones. A few seconds later, Policastro adds an incandescence to the piece with his warm, reverberating notes. The music ebbs and flows elegantly among the three men to an exquisite conclusion.

With each new record, Fort continues to mature and grow. The nuanced and subtle Everything I Love demonstrates his artistry perfectly and is his best work to date.