Magnificent Tommy Flanagan

The title of this set is not an overstatement. Tommy Flanagan has long been one of the top bop-based jazz pianists and, although he was somewhat neglected during his stints with Ella Fitzgerald's group, he has been a steady poll-winner since finally going out on his own. This trio session with bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster (featuring seven standards and Thad Jones's "Blueish Grey") is as tasteful and consistently swinging as one would expect from players of this caliber. ~ Scott Yanow