Catch Your Breath

Try as we might, there are too many ?uderdog? pianists out there to acquaint ourselves with all of them. However, one of those worth discovering is Debbie Poryes, a jazz pianist with taste, touch and talent. Her trio includes Bill Douglass, bass, and David Rokeach, drums. On most of the tunes here, she adds the alto and soprano sax of Bruce Williamson. Poryes displays a well-balanced program of standards and originals. Check out her introduction to ?I Should Care,? with its classical bent. She then transforms it into a delicately swinging rendition of that evergreen. Another highlight is Sonny Clark's uplifting ?Melody for C,? zestfully played here. I think I'm one of the only guys on planet Earth who never got much into the Beatles, but even I have to admit that ?Here, There and Everywhere? is a charmer, and Poryes and pals give it lotsa love. On these and others, notably ?My Heart Stood Still? and Irving Berlin's nearly forgotten ?I've Got the Sun in the Morning,? Debbie Poryes adds her name to the list of pianists deserving of our ears and attention.