Virginia-born pianist/composer Noah Haidu has been on the New York scene for some years now. How his talent has remained such a secret baffles me. He is unquestionably one of the most confident and impressive of all the new pianists and a composer of really good originals, all with unusual harmonic density and catchy jagged-edged melody lines. The same goes for his playing, which is also always rhythmically exciting, with both hands constantly active, his intense chords never taking the easy option. His tutors included Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, David Hazeltine and, in particular, Bruce Barth. There's some Hancock in the more fleet solo passages. There's some funk Monk there, too on occasion. There's some Steve Coleman school stuff in there, too. And this writer can also even hear the spirit of legendary bopper Tadd Dameron. But nevertheless, he sounds an original. Listen to how he reharmonises the only standard in the set ‘Just One of Those Things’. The supporting cast is absolutely top notch. Jeremy Pelt sounds as inventive as on his own dates and obviously enjoys playing these compositions and Jon Irabagon (who recently impressed at the Pizza Express with Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor) lives up to everything my colleague Jack Massarik forecast when reviewing his debut CD last year. Haney and Davis are probably Haidu's working trio mates and both respond intuitively to his comping and solos, while on his four-tracks Willie Jones makes it all sound so easy – which of course it isn't! A special word for producer Marc Free, currently one of the best and busiest on the current scene. And though there are three different sessions at three different studios with three different engineers, the overall excellent clean sound gives the impression the whole date was done in one afternoon in just one location. Haidu is an important new talent and you'll really enjoy this album.