With Love

According to Jessica Williams' liner notes, it's a bit of a miracle that this CD even exists. In the last couple of years she has had to deal with the collapse of her lumbar spine and extensive reconstructive surgery, leaving her in a state where she wasn't sure if she would even walk again much less play the piano. Given all that, the fact this solo recital is all at slow tempos is completely understandable. Within that framework her playing is consistently lyrical and precise. Every note has the clarity and spacing of a harp. She never wanders too far from the melodies of her familiar repertoire but she does embellish the songs with elegant variations. A bit of "Peace Piece" drifts into "My Foolish Heart" and a whisper of blues shows up in "Summertime". The restrictive delicacy in Williams' playing creates a very intimate sound, one full of measured passion and care. This set is a testament to Williams' will to keep making music and her ability to create beauty out of dark conditions.