References are often made to the characteristics of locations such as LA, Texas, Chicago or New Orleans when discussing the local music. So let’s hear it for the West Indies and pianists Oscar Peterson, Kenny Drew, Monty Alexander, Randy Weston and the latter’s cousin Wynton Kelly who either came from one of the islands or whose parents had a direct Caribbean connection. The other things they all had in common was the sheer vibrancy in their approach. Jamaican born/New York raised Kelly began to carve out a solo career while still an integral component of Miles Davis’ first great quintet. Nevertheless, Kelly, Chambers and Cobb did so much moonlighting that it really came as no big surprise when they finally upped sticks to go it alone. Save for the 1959 date, most of these recordings (which have been reissued a number of times) were made soon after Miles’ ‘Blackhawk’ stint and his Carnegie Hall show with Gil Evans) and be it Kelly’s sprightly ‘Char’s Blues’, Zawinul’s ‘Joe’s Avenue’ or a return to ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ this depicts a well-drilled confidence that so few piano trios ever achieve. And, depending upon how you feel about alternate takes – there’s a second disc loaded with them. However, I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed.