Veteran pianist Hal Galper has a more measured, intricate approach on "O's Time." On John Coltrane's "Like Sonny" he takes his time working up classical-sounding turbulence with different tempos in each hand while his rhythm mates, Jeff Johnson and John Bishop swirl alongside him. The trio moves through Wayne Shotere's "Wildflower" and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" in surging, delirious clouds while the ballad "Moonglazed" is played in a lurching, off-center manner that suggests a cross between Thelonious Monk and Keith Jarrett. Furthering the Monk connection, the melody of Galper's own "O's
Time" sounds like a kissing cousin to "Well You Needn't" as it's stabbed out by the piano over Bishop's furious drumming. Galper is a master at combining energy and atonal beauty and has an iron control of tempo. This set really shows him to advantage.