Simon Lasky has a wide-ranging background, from studying classical and film music to playing on cruise ships. He is as accomplished behind the lectern as he is at the piano, adeptly drawing links between classical and rock music in order to broaden the musical horizons of those he addresses. In the recording studio he sounds equally keen to appeal to a broad audience. The bookends to this album of original tunes are two piano-led pieces, the first of which echoes Keith Jarrett's 1970s-era folk melodies, the latter more chamber classical in the interaction between piano and acoustic guitar. Between them the fluent flugel of Jayasinha and the wiry tone of Boscagin's electric get a good run of themes and solos over a smoothly-integrated rhythm team. The accent is on the easygoing ballad or medium tempo roller, though things get a little spicier on the Latin-pulsed ‘Let Me In’ and ‘Oregon Trail’, and the Metheny-esque ‘Morning Bright’. Lasky's musical knowledge and arranging skills mean everything is in its right place and the quality of the recording reflects the harmonious nature of the playing. Modern melodic jazz which is perhaps – and understandably so – just a little too ‘textbook’.