Rein Godefroy: It Will Come

Dutch pianist Rein Godefroy enters the crowded and talent-filled arena of the jazz piano trio with It Will Come. The music—on a first listen—seems to fit in the the European aesthetic of this form of musical expression with the opener, the disc's title tune, a gently laid down sound. The piano touch is supple, the bass/drums accompaniment rolling in a post-Bill Evans parity, with a lot of pop in the drums. The song is a story that builds momentum, gradually, moving from a delicate pastoral-ism into lively groove.

This is a debut effort from Godefroy, and a good one. His vision is locked in with a tight focus; his cohorts—bassist Guus Bakker and drummer Pim Dros—are assertive and in-synch with that vision.

"Trampoline" cranks the energy level up a few notches, with Godefroy and Bakker riding a Dros drum sizzle with a Bud Powell bounce and ebullience. "Old New" draws the sound into a classically-tinged ballad territory, pensive and expressive and patiently executed. "Blue On Blue" tells a sad story, in the beginning, that seems, a minute in, to find a ray of hope.

Melody is so important, and Godefroy—all of the compositions here are his—crafts distinctive beauties, like the saucy, strutting "Blinkart," and the organically grooving "Cycle," on this engaging and auspicious debut.