Pasqua first came to attention with Tony Williams's New Lifetime, then went on to play for Bob Dylan (including, apparently, accompanying the singer's Nobel Prize acceptance speech). This album isn't like any of that. It's in the tradition of rhapsodic treatments of American songbook standards, plus a couple of jazz classics, with such a warm unhurried feel that it's not until half-way through track Five (out of 10) that we get even a minute of relaxed grooving. Almost everything is out-of-tempo, and the reason you don't object is that the full sound of Pasqua's home piano mirrors a discreetly decorative style that ultimately derives from Art Tatum and those who (like Tommy Flanagan, see under Reissues/Archive this issue) are moved by his approach and his harmonies. The repertoire would risk being boring without such single-minded interpretation but, alongside an Ellington, a couple of Strayhorns and Bill Evans' ‘Turn Out The Stars, there are two pretty obscure songs – one by Alec Wilder, the other a Patti Page hit rescued by Bette Midler. You shouldn't listen to these 57 minutes if you're in the mood for anything less subtle, but especially don't prejudge artists on their previous reputation.