Fans of Liane Carroll's superb Ballads album will recall that pianist Mark Edwards was a key presence. Liane returns the favour on In Deep, the pianist's outstanding debut recording, kicking off proceedings with the most lyrical version of James Taylor's ‘Enough To Be On Your Way’ imaginable. On the opener, and throughout, Edwards combines the most heart-melting voicings, an unfailingly beautiful tone, and a rare emotional directness. Three other vocal tracks feature Carleen Anderson (a beautifully languid ‘Superstar’), Claire Martin (a quietly dramatic ‘This Love Affair’) and Priscilla Jones-Campbell (a soul-stirring ‘The Trumpet Child’). Equally fine instrumentals include Radiohead's ‘2+2=5’, ‘Gabriel's Oboe’ (the main theme from the 1986 film The Mission), the self-penned and slightly Jarrett-like ‘There Is A Hope’ and, to conclude, an understated solo version of Fauré's ‘Libera Me’. Recorded and produced by the Grammy-nominated James McMillan, who also contributes trumpet and flugel, it would be difficult to imagine a finer introduction to the music of Mark Edwards than In Deep.