Touch

Pianist Jessica Williams thinks deeply about her spiritual relationship with the instrument, and the deep cohesive bond is evident in her recordings. Touch finds her at one of her two favorite pianos in a comfortable space in Seattle, The Triple Door, where the audience is quietly attentive. Williams is a serious blend of the romantic experimenter, in love with the expansive sounds of the piano, and the player who knows the value of space and simplicity. The CD's title, "Touch," is appropriate, but this CD could have been called "Candor," for williams approaches her material without relying on conventions. From the first measures of "I Loves You, Porgy." she's not afraid to taker her time exploring the music. Each performance is more than an impressionistic rumination; Williams can be pointed and tough, as on "Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat," and her originals have their own logic.