Tim Lyddon: I've Traveled So Far

With an engaging light-as-a-feather, block-chord touch, pianist Tim Lyddon spins out eight original and two standard compositions, all impeccably performed in the piano trio format.. A California-born current New Yorker, Lyddon employs his original compositions to express the art of the trio. He is not a blues player (at least on this recording) opting for mostly ballads, both upbeat and languid. Lyddon's lyricism is apparent on the title song, "Angela," and "Dreamland." However, he can come off as angular and craggy as his solo piano take on his own "Theme for a Last Real" and Van Heusen's "I Thought About You."

Lyddon's support in bassist Tom Hubbard and drummer Scott Latzky who both take solo shots, most notably on "Dreamland" for the former and "Freedom Piece" for the latter. Even in as congested a market as piano trio releases, I continue to be amazed at the resilience and endurance of the trio format as a performance vehicle and the high quality of the musicianship expressed. Lyddon makes a strong case for his rendering of the piano trio.