Songs For A New Century

Like Oliver Jones, pianist Jessica Williams owes a large debt to Oscar Peterson. She acknowledges it with the gorgeous original, Dear Oscar, just one of the beautiful solo works on this collection.

Williams unleashes all of her playful, adventurous power on a wide-ranging repertoire of originals and Sonny Rollins' seldom-played gem, Blessing In Disguise. Without the aid of overdubs, Williams conjures up the Japanese koto an shamisen on the haunting Toshiko. Fantasia is an even more amazing display of her soulful, brilliant technique.

Is their another pianist who has incorporated the breakthroughs of giants Bill Evans and John Coltrane into such a unique, inspired synthesis? Jessica Williams is a wonder.