Roberta Piket’s Love and Beauty is a mesmerizing session with the pianist’s working trio (bassist Ratzo Harris and drummer Billy Mintz). Focusing primarily on her original works and several by Mintz, the trio opens with a return trip to the leader’s sizzling “I’m My Everything” (which is based partially on “You’re My Everything.” Her nostalgic “For Uncle Harvey” is a warm ballad tribute to a favorite relative who has passed away. The pianist’s “Alone Alone” is based upon the standard “Alone Together,” but is a Lennie Tristano-like reconstruction that will evade all but the most seasoned jazz listeners. Mintz’s compositions are equally strong, and include the driving “Flight” and the bittersweet “Destiny,” the latter a slow samba which adds tenor saxophonist Rich Perry as a guest and features Piket delivering a poignant vocal. Cole Porter’s “So in Love” has seldom been played in such a melancholy way, highlighted by Harris’ arco bass. “Up, Up and Away,” a huge hit for the vocal pop group the Fifth Dimension, is recast by Piket as an intricate post-bop vehicle full of dark passages and a bit of mystery. Highly recommended! – Ken Dryden
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