Delight

Dawn Clement is a versatile modern mainstream jazz pianist with a sound of her own who is also a quietly expressive singer. In her career she has worked with Julian Priester and Jane Ira Bloom in addition to leading her own trios. Delight is at least her sixth album as a leader.

On Delight, Clement is joined by bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson for a well-rounded program. It begins with the pianist's inventive original "Outstretch" which introduces her style. She explores "Monk's Dream" with the trio, taking the song into some new areas and featuring Wilson playing the melody on his drums during the last chorus. Her first of three vocals has effective singing on Elvis Costello's ballad "Someone Took the Words." Buster Williams' medium-tempo boppish blues "Tokudo" precedes Clement's episodic and lyrical "Easy E." The other selections have her accompanying her singing on piano during the solo "You Taught My Heart to Sing," swinging with the trio on Priester's "Elmer's Holiday" and "Alone Together," and overdubbing as a choir during her own "Forgive Me."

Delight lives up to its title and is a fine all-round showcase for Dawn Clement.