Hazeltine, born 1958 in Milwaukee and a New Yorker by adoption long since, crops up often on albums by his fellow members of the all-star band One For All, while also building a substantial discography of his own as a trio leader. He clearly excels at this and can best be placed as a straight-ahead bebopper, his influences including Oscar Peterson, Barry Harris, and Cedar Walton.

On this evidence, it’s less the fulsome style of Peterson that works best for him; more the grown-up bebop orientation of Harris and Walton, the harmonic delving and desire to swing evident throughout this 10-piece programme. After Buddy Montgomery’s ‘Here Again’, he tackles the standard ‘Tangerine’ filleting its venerable theme skilfully before his title track tribute to Gerry Teekens – the founder of Criss Cross Jazz – which is the most incisive and pleasing performance here. Walton’s ‘Firm Roots’ is taken fast, with Farnsworth featured, this emphasising his value alongside that of Washington, these two senior pros ideal for Hazeltine’s purposes. This pianist has the kind of facility and harmonic resource to make this piece a perfect vehicle for pianistic enterprise. In contrast, he then moves on to a swing-era test-piece, ‘Body And Soul’, his approach far from reverential yet deeply felt.

There’s nothing rushed or excessive here; proper keyboard command and a well-stocked harmonic palette make for a series of classy expositions, this epitomised by his ‘Minor Disturbance’, Washington anchoring things brilliantly. Latter-day jazz piano at its best, with everything from Carmichael’s lovely ‘Skylark’ to Duke Pearson’s bossa ‘You Know I Care’ handled with commendable alacrity and taste.