You have to go all the way back to 2008 for the last time pianist Aaron Parks released an album on Blue Note; that was his outstanding debut Invisible Cinema which was the inspiration for his band Little Big. Now back on the label’s books, the 40-year-old pianist-composer continues his lyrical exploration of contemporary song-form on Little Big III on originals that draw from Americana-inflected alt. rock rather than your Irving Berlins or Wayne Shorters.

The interpretations take on the characteristic of the source material, largely but not exclusively in a dreamily atmospheric and warmly melancholic kind of mood. In a sense it touches on the work in this area of Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau and Bill Frisell, but Parks creates his own hauntingly atmospheric signature. In spite of Parks’ central influences, this is no watered down pop-orientated jazz. Greg Tuohey’s guitar chimes with Americana on the languorous ‘Locked Down’ that’s crying out for a Tom Waits vocal.

Right out of the blue comes ‘Sports’ with its uplifting Weather Report-ish African-tinged funk bass with Parks’ cohesive story-telling soloing prowess and Tuohey’s more surging jazz-rock guitar. The Steely Dan-ish ‘Little Beginnings’, the stimulating contrast between chiming indie guitar and feverish drum and bass-type kitwork on the perfectly titled ‘The Machines Say No’, the rock guitar psychedelia of ‘Willamania’ and the touching Jarrett-influenced ballad ‘Ashé’ are further indication of the pianist-composer’s highly impressive return to the legendary label’s catalogue.