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4-STARS With his father Piet having been Jef Neve's bassist for many years, we suspect that Antwerp pianist Milan Verbist (26) was brought up with a love of jazz. It is therefore no surprise that the four covers he presents here include lesser-known works by Tomasz Stanko and Gary Peacock. He also has an affinity for classical music, as evidenced by J.S. Bach's 'Sarabande', which he transforms into a beautiful piece of jazz.

For his debut album, Verbist has opted for the traditional trio format, with Toon Rumen on bass and Jens Meijer on drums. The pianist has a surprisingly mature touch, as you can hear from the very first chords of the quiet opener. Other pieces swing delightfully - 'Djeezes' is seven minutes of infectious fun. Our favourite is 'Happy House', a cover of Ornette Coleman, introduced by Rumen's delightful wooden bass sound, with Verbist adding extra sparkle to the song with his virtuoso and dazzling piano playing. Strong work from a piano trio that makes a big impression right from the start.